Bonne Cher – 5:00 Fridays

I unabashedly love Cher. The old Cher. The original. The Cher from Mask and 70s kitschy variety shows. I even love the tacky yet glam Bob Mackie Cher.

Today is Cher’s birthday.

I had a fabulous Cher doll when I was a kid. She had a shiny black mane of hair that was perfectly straight and reached down to her derriere, a va-va-va-voom figure, a pink clingy halter dress that was cut down low, and matching pink heels. Cher did have an unusually large head and a glazed over look about her, but oh how I loved that doll. I built a stage for her out of my mom’s old shoe boxes and decorated it with tin foil and glitter. Cher required more bling than Barbie, and Skipper was her lackey. Tiffany, the weird doll whose head rotated to switch from blond to brunette, was a jealous wannabe to Cher’s star. She had a Posh Spice sour puss look about her anyway.

I was even part of a Sonny and Cher duo for Halloween back in graduate school. But considering I’m five feet tall, I got to be Sonny. I did look pretty good in a brown velvet suit with faux chest hair duct taped to my decolletage. Then there was the year that Believe was the theme song for our Key West vacation. I swear it blasted out of every bar, convertible, and boom box. If I could turn back time I think I might morph back to my eight year old self to play with those dolls again. Then again, I might just plop on a barstool in Key West, where I can see some kick ass Cher drag impersonators.

Bonne Cher

2 ounces Rain Red Grape Hibiscus Vodka

1 ounce peach nectar

lime wedge and mint muddled with simple syrup and honey

Grenadine

Nasturtium

In a cocktail shaker, muddle a lime wedge and a handful of fresh mint with a few teaspoons of simple syrup and a glob of honey. Add ice, vodka, and peach nectar. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Add a drop of grenadine. Don’t stir. Garnish with a fresh nasturtium or other edible flower.

They say we’re young and we don’t know

We won’t find out until we grow…

Happy Birthday, Cher!