Sauv Blanc in the Sunshine

The air was breezy, smelling of meats cooking over flame - as nostalgic as the scent of the ocean or a warm apple pie cooling in the window. A dog, his nose perked and sniffing, tensely sat at attention waiting for a morsel to drop. Smack talk shouted from the badminton court amused those sitting with paper plates perched on their knees. It was the first BBQ of the season.

This pleasant afternoon of friends and warm weather generally provides the perfect excuse for two favored forms of gluttony - booze and food. Sure there were bottles of Captain and Bombay, pitchers of Sangria, reds, whites, and beers and everyone was looking forward to letting loose for an afternoon. There were burgers, ribs, and veggies from the grill, bags of processed snack foods coated in neon orange "cheese," salads of the potato and pasta varieties all waiting to be consumed in mass quantities. Rules were thrown out the window, it's an excuse to party right? Just as every Holiday cocktail party means a break from the norm, every birthday, anniversary, Labor, Memorial and Guy Fox Day, Friday happy hour, Monday happy hour, and hell - Wendnes "hump" day happy hour deserve a lax in the parameters and a break from commitments. It's a special occasion right?

Nobody enjoys the afternoon cocktail more than me; for some reason margaritas taste more 'rita-y in the daylight and Coronas were obviously made to be consumed with a lime in the bottle and sunglasses on the nose. So yesterday, with crisp, fruity Sauvignon Blanc calling my name, I said why not? It's a special occasion right? I had a glass. I enjoyed it and appreciated every sip. And then I switched to diet coke and water for the rest of the afternoon. I helped myself to some veggies and a meat-free burger, and subtly sat on the other side of the patio from the bags of never ending chips and Cheetos. I participated in the games, and laughed, and boogied to the music, and said goodbye without the curse of the afternoon cocktail - the evening hangover. I drove home with my wits about me, clear headed and pleasantly pooped instead of wishing that 7pm didn't seem like an appropriate bedtime.

Had I not had so much practice in the last 4 months building up my will power yesterday afternoon may have been filled with inner arguments about how many drinks is too many, and when to remove myself from coveted spot next to the snack table. But I enjoyed yesterday as someone who was comfortable in the decisions I'd made and didn't question them as if I had the option. I ate mindfully, out of hunger instead of nerves. I chose the one drink I truly wanted and had my treat for the afternoon, choosing to enjoy it instead of gulping one plastic cup down so I could go for another. And then I joined in the badminton game - truly perfecting the art of smack talk and breathing in the scents of summer, sober and satisfied.