Sunday, August 25, 2024

You know the old saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun”? We must be having fun in retirement, because the days are going by so quickly. I am glad my smart watch tells me the day of the week, because–full disclosure–I have had to consult it a few times.

The “highs” are numerous, and wonderful: we will be gaining a lovely daughter-in-law in October; no new medical problems have arisen; we are planning interesting vacations; our children are advancing in their respective careers; the birds are singing outside our windows; and so on.

But there are some “lows” as well: we are realizing that we are aging; some of our “bucket list” adventures will never happen because of our physical limitations; we ponder whether we have contributed enough to our society; we worry about outliving our savings; global warming is increasingly impacting us; and so on.

Yet with age comes wisdom, right? And we grow wiser by the day, or at least wise enough to forge a blend of the highs and the lows, with an emphasis on the hope-filled highs!

In a stemmed glass, combine 1 1/2 ounces gin (I used a home-crafted butterfly pea blossom gin–it’s blue!– inspired by Empress 1908), 1 ounce chilled hibiscus simple syrup (store bought), and 3/4 ounce lime juice. Stir gently, and slowly top with chilled ginger beer. Add a lime slice to float on top.