This year the holidays have brought out the sourpuss in me. I’m still reeling from the obscene consumerism of “gray Thursday,” yet heartily emboldened by the generosity of Giving Tuesday. But still, the spirit of Christmas is shrouded in a veil of greed. I am admittedly among those whose eyes glow at the sight of deliciously supple boots or the stylish bag with all the right compartments. I want to spoil Bird and Deal while they are still little boys and believe in Santa (perhaps Bird’s last Christmas as a believer, but that’s another story). For now I love to pull out all the proverbial stops for Christmas. The boys are full of wonder and have really been on their best behavior (minus a hiccup the other night).
I grapple with feeding the consumerist machine and living true to my values. There are people working tirelessly to feed hungry children and families in our community, and scores of others helping those in need. I’ve become a sourpuss because I see so much that I could be doing and am not. I should refocus my own values and recalibrate my heart and head. I have become a sourpuss because so many folks just don’t give a shit. They just want to buy buy buy more more more. I’ve become a sourpuss because so many people want want want more more more. Is the buying or the wanting worse? I fall a tish in each camp so count me guilty as charged. See the vicious cycle that lands me squarely in Sourpussville?
There’s just one antidote for this sourpuss. A whiskey sour.
Sourpuss Whiskey Sour
3 ounces homemade sour mix You don’t buy the premade sour mix, right? It’s full of high fructose corn syrup and things I can’t pronouce. I assure you it’s easy to concoct a batch of your own.)
1-2 ounces whiskey
small wedge of a citrus fruit
For the sour mix:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup (a little more is fine) fresh citrus juice: I used 3 limes, 2 lemons, 1 orange, 1/2 grapefruit