What Happens When a Woman Over 60 Drinks Bourbon (As Told by a Woman Over 60 Who Forgot She Was a Woman Over 60)
Last night I sipped a little bourbon and felt like a firecracker. This morning I feel like a sock.
Last night, y’all… I stepped outside my usual tea-and-truth-telling lifestyle and had myself a splash (okay, several) of bourbon.
Mixed with Coke, because I’m still a lady.
Served slowly over three hours, because I’m seasoned.
And sipped in good company—because I’m no fool.
We sat. We laughed. We told the truth.
I felt brilliant. Warm. Slightly bold.
Honestly? I was the spiritual version of a honky-tonk philosopher.
And now?
Now I don’t know anything.
Not one damn thing.
My wisdom? Gone.
My wit? Missing in action.
My life coach energy? Flatlined.
I feel like a woman who tried to ride a mechanical bull of self-expression, got halfway through the yeehaw, and is now face down in a pillow asking why her thoughts are so… soft.
It’s not a hangover. (I didn’t drink that much.)
It’s more like a soul-lag. Like I danced a little too close to the edge of pleasure and now my nervous system needs a snack and a nap.
Honestly, I think my brilliance is still recovering from the bourbon’s charisma.
And his.
(Yes, I said it. Let’s not dwell.)
But here’s the thing:
I don’t regret it.
Not the sip, the sparkle, or the stunned silence in my brain today.
Because for a moment last night, I felt completely alive.
Not responsible. Not wise. Not “on.”
Just me. Giddy, glowing, and delightfully unfiltered.
So maybe that’s the point.
Sometimes you don’t need to be profound.
You just need to sit still with someone who sees you, pour the damn drink, and let life giggle through you for a few hours.
I’ll be back with my fire tomorrow.
Today? I’m shuffling back to bed.
And I earned it.
P.S. Ever had a day-after moment like this—where your soul felt fuzzy but free? Hit reply and tell me. Or better yet, pour something fun and write your own version. I’ll read it. With water. I promise.
I do enjoy a bourbon and Coke with my husband occasionally. Unfortunately, I don't get the beautiful glow you get, I just get totally unconscious within minutes of finishing it. Unfortunately, alcohol + the meds I take = instant coma. The good thing is, I have no after effects the next day since I can't stay awake to drink more than one.
This summarizes my relationship with alcohol. I occasionally indulge. Usually when home alone, well hydrated, after a full meal no plans next few days. Half a glass north coast brewery ole Rasputin beer, Pacific Northwest wine, or traditional sake. That’s a few years worth of alcohol for me. For some reason when I visit friends and have wine socially the effect is reduced. During pandemic I discovered local crafted botanical gin, a few sips occasionally was nice. My immune system does not tolerate much alcohol. So yes a bit of that independent rebel even if a little numbed afterward.