Today I'm going to write about something different. This social distancing over the COVID-19 virus has given me a lot more time on my hands. I decided that today I didn't want to spend it all on my phone. Writing is constructive, and just all-around better for me.
So today I'm going to tell you my (current) top ten favorite drinks. Lezzgo!
Number 10- Red Moscato.
I believe the first time I tried wine, it came from a box. It tasted a terrible hybrid of cough medicine and rubbing alcohol. It latched onto the skin inside of my mouth and tried to dissolve it. It was sour and bitter, both sensations turned up to ten. It took several minutes to get my face back into its proper shape again. So I was wary when my roommate asked me to try a glass of sweet dessert wine.
I was pleasantly surprised. It was how I'd always imagined wine should taste! I sipped it slowly, savoring it. Halfway through the glass, I felt little zings running in my blood. My body's muscles began to relax; I began to melt into my chair. My breaths were deep and slow, and my mind went all quiet and serene. When I eventually curled up in my bed that night, my sleep was deep and refreshing.
Red wine is a treat. It's a nice way to finish a long or trying day. Heck, it's just a nice finish to any day. I make sure to keep it a treat, and I never have more than two glasses. Even that's a bit much. One glass usually does it.
Number 9- Lime Margarita!
I never thought I would like the taste of tequila, but it turns out I do! My roommate got me into margaritas. One happy hour she was kind enough to let me taste hers so I could decide if I wanted to order one of my own.
There's just something about it--that lime taste--it's sharp and sweet and refreshing all at once! I like them frozen rather than over ice. It's become my (alcoholic) drink of choice. It makes me think of oceans and summertime, and it kind of makes me long to take a road trip to a pretty beach. Which is kind of remarkable, since I'm not much of a beach person. I'm a mountains-girl all the way...and yet...yeah, this winter I was cherishing hopes of a trip to a beach some weekend. I don't think this is going to be my year for that, but oh well. Some other time, I guess.
Number 8- Grape Juice!
Some kids grow up drinking a lot of juice (real or syrup). With me and my siblings, juice was an enormous treat. Grape juice never lasted long in our house. But at one point, my dad started buying grape juice, and he let us have half a glass for special occasions like a family game night. He showed us how to "cut it" with water, so we could make it last longer. I was instantly a fan because it let me have a full glass to savor. Yes, the flavor wasn't as sharp, but at least I had grape juice!
I remember one night we were attempting to play "Clue," together for a family game night. My parents let us break out the grape juice and fixed us popcorn. The game was very difficult to learn, but the experience was fun. The next time we played Clue, I found myself craving grape juice, and so it became a little tradition. I still associate the "Whodunnit," mystery game with the flavor of grape juice.
I don't often win at Clue, but I love playing it. It was a very long process learning how, but it was worth it. Atmosphere is important to me in that game. Some minor-key slow jazz playing, grape juice, the smell of popcorn in the air, the pencils, the furtive scribbling...Hey, anyone up for a game of Clue?! Oh, right. Social distancing. Never mind.
There's something else that I associate grape juice with that's far more important. I grew up in a church, and I was saved as a young child, so I've taken the Lord's Supper for the majority of my life.
The Lord's Supper is a solemn, yet wonderful ordinance. It's not about the cracker and the juice, of course. Those are merely emblems that we use to remind us of Christ's death and resurrection. He, God come in the flesh, allowed his body to be broken and handed over to be the sacrifice to pay sinners' ransom. He allowed His blood--both human, and yet sinless--to be spilled for us in a horrifying and torturous death. We take communion once a month at our church. We remember. We thank Him. We center our minds on Christ once more. It's a wonderful spiritual discipline.
Grape juice always reminds me of that, even when I pour myself a glass and take the first sip from it. It's sharp and earthy, sweet, but with a tang. It tastes like forgiveness; a reminder that my conscience has been cleansed. It is sorrow mingled with joy, love mingled with tears. Celebratory fruit, yet the color of blood. An acknowledgement of the bitterness of sin, but the promise that one day I will be summoned to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God. Welcomed because He bore my penalty.
Such a mundane drink, and yet what a holy and joyful purpose it serves!
The next few I'll be able to move through more quickly.
Number 7- Coca-Cola!
What can I say? I'm an all-American girl. I love Coca-Cola! And I'm from the South, so if you tell me you want "a coke," I assume you mean the drink Coca-Cola.
Coke is what I grew up drinking for celebratory occasions; it's very much a Saturday kind of drink. For parties, Family Roller Skating Nights, or the after-party of a basketball game. Or for taco or pizza nights! My mother always let us have caffeine-free Coke when she fixed us tacos or whenever Daddy ordered pizza for us. (And caffeine-free Coke, by the way, is actually amazing. When you're as sensitive to caffeine as I am, that's a massive blessing.)
My mother has a love for Coke Icees. Back when I was in high school, I'd have my violin lessons at 1pm on Wednesdays. Then afterward she and I would do all the grocery shopping for the week. She and I would get large Coke Icees together, it was kind of our thing. We would sing in the car together and talk about all kinds of things. Those were happy times. The taste of a Coke from a vending machine brings back those memories.
Number 6- Dr. Pepper!
I'm sorry...but I'm afraid I love Dr. Pepper even more than Coca-Cola. I don't know what it is, but gosh, it's delicious. At my first job I was shown a break room stocked with cans upon cans of all kinds of soft drinks...including piles of Dr. Pepper.
I could hear a heavenly choir singing "Ahhhhh-AAAHHHHHH!" in my mind as I was made to understand that we could partake of these untold riches as often as we pleased. It was bounty and generosity beyond my wildest dreams.
So I did. It was a marvelous freedom, and I delighted in it.
Yeah. There were days when I had to continuously chug Dr. Pepper just to keep myself from passing out right there at my desk. You know, from lack of sleep catching up to me from the last...ten nights or so. I didn't go to college, but from what I've been told, that bears some resemblance to the "college experience."
And of course, because I had no self-control, when I worked at Chick-fil-A, I was drinking ungodly amounts of caffeine six days a week. A few years ago I had a terrible migraine from caffeine withdrawal, and it really put things into perspective. I don't want to be dependent on caffeine! I don't want to rely on it in order to be awake and functioning in the morning. Or to be a decent person. I'm not sure when it became socially acceptable to be rude to people if you haven't had your coffee fix yet, but it sounds just like any other addiction to me. You've all seen the cutesy slogans on coffee mugs and t-shirts: "I can't be polite to you until I've drunk my coffee--don't you dare speak to me before I'm done!"
Yeah, more like, you're just a selfish person with an addiction.
At any rate, I had to go off caffeine cold turkey, and it's once again a treat for special occasions. Thanks a lot, former self.
Number 5- Tea!!
My (very old) self-description on the side of this blog says that I'm a tea-snob. That's still true. What's also true is that I have kind of burned out on sweet tea lately. But then, that could be because most sweet tea is caffeinated, and I can no longer drink it often.
I like chamomile or peppermint tea in the evenings for a calming, soothing drink, but my favorites are the loose-leaf black teas. The English blends, or the Indian chai. Which I can't have often. (*sigh*)
Number 4- Lemonade!
I'm sorry to put this above tea, but lemonade isn't caffeinated, and so it's something that I've been enjoying more recently.
When I say lemonade, I of course mean real lemons and water and sugar. Not powdered stuff. I have nothing against Country Time except, well, that it isn't the real deal.
Real lemonade is like drinking sunshine. On hot days, it's refreshing. So sour, so sweet, so cool. I crave it on rainy days, too. When I drink it on a rainy day, I feel as if I've got a cupful of drinkable sunshine.
Sometimes I like to slice up strawberries to put in it. Delectable. But no ice! Don't want to dilute that marvelous taste, now, do we? Just serve it chilled--NO ICE!
And now we reach the top three...
Number 3- Milkshakes/Floats.
Yep. Number three. It absolutely refused to be lower. Milkshakes are one of the best things in the culinary world to have ever been invented, as far as I'm concerned.
See, here's the thing. As much as I love dessert, there's a surprising number of them that I really don't care for.
For instance, I never have been much of a pie person. There are pies that I enjoy, but I don't ever get a "hankerin' " for a slice. Cobblers and fruit pies I can take or leave. When people serve me pie after dinner, I'll take a slice and eat it to be polite. I can taste that it's sweet. I can sort of appreciate it for what it is. But the sad truth is that after one bite, I just don't really want any more.
Cakes I'm a bit more inclined to, especially if it's homemade. (Or chocolate!) But store-bought birthday cakes smeared with piles of sugary frosting or coated with fondant--yuck. Weddings, parties, I can usually do without the cake. (Except yours, sis! Your cakes from scratch are divine, and I love them!)
Pastries are very British, but they're overrated. Cookies are nice, especially if they're hot out of the oven. Hmm, if I'm honest, cookies are pretty safe. I'm not as picky when it comes to cookies.
But brownies, ice cream, and chocolate are my JAM. My taste in desserts is obviously pretty low-brow. Custards, crumbles, tarts, tiramisu, lemon bars, trifles, baked puddings, creme brulee, cheesecake--meh. How about an enormous cup of blended ice cream with chocolate or toppings in it? YES!! I know it's bit child-like, but what can I say? They're simply the best.
I'm including floats in this, because they're practically the same thing. Root beer, coke, or Dr. Pepper floats, they're all marvelous. A case could even be made for my beloved caramel frappuccinos to fit in this category, because they're basically ice cream with coffee flavoring in them. I don't pretend to be a coffee drinker, you know.
Number 2- Water.
I know, I know. This probably should be number one because of how good it is for you. Well, that, and because if it wasn't for water, we couldn't drink at all!
I just can't realize how thirsty I am until I start drinking water throughout the day. Sadly, dehydration contributes to most of the headaches I have.
One summer some friends and I took a Saturday to canoe down a river. We didn't bring enough water with us. Nobody wanted to lug all the water bottles around, I guess. We had one or two bottles apiece for our sack lunch, but we were halfway down the river before we realized our mistake. It was a hot day, and the sun beat down on us as we glided along. Soon our shoulders were getting sore, and I at least could feel a painful sunburn forming.
The bus ride back to our cars had no air-conditioning, and even then it took us a while to drive to a restaurant. Exhausted, sunburned, ravenous, sore, and dehydrated, we tumbled into a tiny little Daisy Queen and ordered water the moment we entered. I requested mine without ice, and it arrived at our table just as I got back from washing my hands. I took it from the girl's hand and exclaimed "Glory Hallelujah!" with the utmost sincerity before I was gulping it shamelessly. She gave me a weird look, but I could not have cared less. I always bring plenty of water bottles on float trips now, and I even reapply sunscreen. (Oh my gosh, I'm an adult...!)
There's another story I want to tell. A few years ago, my brother and I were in Oxford, England for a week-long conference. One of the afternoons when the conference let out, one of my brother's professors offered to show us some of the C.S. Lewis and Tolkien sights in the city. Eagerly we agreed, and the little group set out together.
Now, let me just say, this was a spontaneous thing. I was wearing a dress and wedges and a very tiny purse. Also, I don't believe our dear professor had any deliberate plans before setting out. Not that it mattered. We knew nobody could give us a better tour of Oxford than him, and neither of us would have missed it, even if we'd known what was going to happen.
He showed us many wonderful places that afternoon, several of them obscure or out-of-the-way. There was even a sunken lane--Cuckoo Lane--which was a path that C.S. Lewis habitually walked. It was narrow and walled, with trees arching over at the top. It was quiet, shady, and altogether delightful. I genuinely mean no offense to our dear professor, who is one of the kindest, most charming, and courtly people I have ever met. But! His tour took up the entire afternoon, and I walked all over that city in my clunky white wedges.
Now--you never think of England as uncomfortably hot, right? You always see it portrayed as misty or rainy, or wintry, don't you? But it was July when we were there, and it was a very hot, stuffy kind of day. We were outside and on our feet for hours, and since we were walking through residential areas or college grounds, there really was nowhere to sit, and nowhere to get a drink or a snack.
I was having a good time with the group, and of course I was delighted to see the sights. But I was uncomfortably dressed and sweating profusely and getting very tired and footsore hours before it was time to think about dinner. What I most remember is how very thirsty I was. My mouth went pretty dry a few hours in, so I tried to keep my mouth closed. Hour after hour went by, and all at once I noticed that my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth! That frightened me. With an effort I unstuck it, and it gave way with a nasty sensation. In vain I bit my tongue and the sides of my mouth, which is a singer's trick to stimulate salivation in a dry mouth. There was no response at all. When I nervously ran my tongue around the inside of my mouth, it stuck to my teeth as well. My entire mouth was completely dry. There wasn't a thing I could do about it.
I confess that afternoon is all a blur in my mind. After I made my disconcerting discovery, we were out there for a good two hours longer. My brother and I had raging headaches, and I was getting dizzy. We walked and walked, until I got into that state of mind where I was beginning to think it would never actually end. But somehow we found ourselves back "in civilization," again: streets, cars, buildings, shops, and--Oh, thank the Lord!--a grocery store!! A real, actual grocery store with automatic doors and a breeze of real air-conditioning flowing out of it!
My brother asked the professor to stop for a moment, and he and I and a young lady we'd made friends with all staggered in with our last remaining energy. My memory seems to be almost tunnel vision at that point. I was scanning the shelves for a water bottle--I had no interest in anything else at that moment. I was too hot to even feel how hungry I was. I snatched up the biggest water bottle I saw, and--oh, why not?--a bottle of Dr. Pepper, too. My brother bought two water bottles and bottle of juice. Neither of us cared what it cost. We hurled ourselves to the check out and fumbled with our cash. Next thing I knew I was wrenching off the cap and pouring water down my throat.
I've been reliably told that there is a condition that some people are born with called "Synthesia." It means, "a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of color." I'm pretty sure I don't have this condition, but for that moment in my life I thought I did.
The very instant that cold water flooded my parched mouth, my whole mind exploded with music. I mean, it was loud, crashing, harmonious chords that overrode all thought in my brain. No, I didn't hear it with my ears. I suspect the relief--that's too weak a word--the deliverance and joy that my body felt translated itself in my mind as music. That's the best way I can describe it.
Immediately I understood a whole handful of Scriptures about water far better than I ever had before.
"Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country." (Prov. 25:25)
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters!" (Isa. 55:1)
"...Jesus stood up and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.' " (John 7:37)
And finally! Number 1! My very favorite drink of all--
Number 1-Milk.
Seems like a bit of a letdown, huh? All that rich Biblical imagery for grape juice and water, and my very favorite drink of all is milk. Well, there's plenty of Biblical imagery for milk as well, but I'll get to that in a minute.
I mentioned before that juice was a treat for us growing up. We drank milk instead, three meals a day, and I loved it. Nobody ever talks about how great it is to drink milk, unless they're referring to soy milk. Or rice milk. Or cashew milk. Or pretty much any kind of milk except for cow's milk. I suspect most people think it's babyish to talk about drinking a glass of milk. Either that or most people just don't like milk; but it can't be that. I mean, have you seen how upset people get when there's no milk for their cereal? Geez!
Milk is my absolute favorite thing to drink because it pairs with practically everything.
Breakfast food, eggs, bacon, cereal (naturally), toast with jam, waffles, pancakes, muffins, you name it. Milk goes splendidly with all of them. It mystifies me how people seem to prefer orange juice with their breakfast food. A bite of pancakes and syrup, then a swig of orange juice on top? Blech! Milk is far better.
The creaminess of milk compliments all breakfast foods, be they sweet, light, or hearty. And then I think that its creaminess also compliments the savory of "dinner," meals. Call me crazy, but it just works! And of course milk pairs well with most desserts (especially the desserts I'm partial to.)
I meant to spend a lot of time describing how well they pair, but now that I think of it, either you get it or you don't. There's no use attempting to account for taste, I suppose. I just happen to think milk goes wonderfully with most things. It's a nice thing to reach for if you want something to drink that isn't water. It's a little more filling than water, much pleasanter than water (unless you've been staggering in the summer heat for hours with a dry tongue!), and it works with any snack or dessert. (The only exception I can think of would be sour candy, or something like that.)
When I can't sleep at night, a delightful thing to do is to slip into the kitchen and heat up a mug of milk, then stir in a spoonful of honey. Yeah, yeah, I know it's not the healthiest thing to do, and in my defense, I don't do that very often. But then, I don't usually have trouble sleeping, either.
Drinking warm milk is an almost instant sedative for me. Something about it is so soothing that after a few sips I feel my knotted muscles begin to relax. Halfway through the mug and my eyelids are beginning to droop...and then sleep is stealing over me, warm and familiar and comforting, like an old friend.
I've often thought how nice it would be to have a child come to me, frightened by a nightmare, and to take them to the kitchen to make mugs of warm milk and honey for us both. Then we'd sit talking quietly over them, discussing their dream. I'd comfort them with reality and with truth. And I'd watch in amusement as their eyelids start to droop and their little tousled head begin to nod...and then it'd be off to bed again, tucking them in with a sleepy hug and a kiss.
Just a little fantasy of mine. I'm sure the reality wouldn't be nearly that quiet or tidy. But I can dream.
Anyway, milk has rich symbolism in the Bible, too. Milk is for nourishment, comfort, and even luxury. The pure milk of the Word for those new in the faith, leading to the solid food for the spiritually hungry and growing believers.
Milk and honey were the promises God made for His people. He promised to lead them to a good land that was bountiful and lovely. Again from Isaiah 55, He calls out that he who has no money may come "buy and eat!" of the riches of God's undeserved favor. Wine, for celebration. Water for refreshment, and milk for comfort and sustaining.
But all this talk of warm milk has made me sleepy, and it is high time I went to bed. Everyone stay safe, wash your hands, take precautions. Be good citizens and go along with the whole social distancing for your own good. Be responsible and show the government we can take care of ourselves. Reach out to those around you via technology, and don't forget to read God's Word and listen to sermons and worship at home as best you can.
That's all for tonight, folks!
~Cadenza
So today I'm going to tell you my (current) top ten favorite drinks. Lezzgo!
Number 10- Red Moscato.
I believe the first time I tried wine, it came from a box. It tasted a terrible hybrid of cough medicine and rubbing alcohol. It latched onto the skin inside of my mouth and tried to dissolve it. It was sour and bitter, both sensations turned up to ten. It took several minutes to get my face back into its proper shape again. So I was wary when my roommate asked me to try a glass of sweet dessert wine.
I was pleasantly surprised. It was how I'd always imagined wine should taste! I sipped it slowly, savoring it. Halfway through the glass, I felt little zings running in my blood. My body's muscles began to relax; I began to melt into my chair. My breaths were deep and slow, and my mind went all quiet and serene. When I eventually curled up in my bed that night, my sleep was deep and refreshing.
Red wine is a treat. It's a nice way to finish a long or trying day. Heck, it's just a nice finish to any day. I make sure to keep it a treat, and I never have more than two glasses. Even that's a bit much. One glass usually does it.
Number 9- Lime Margarita!
I never thought I would like the taste of tequila, but it turns out I do! My roommate got me into margaritas. One happy hour she was kind enough to let me taste hers so I could decide if I wanted to order one of my own.
There's just something about it--that lime taste--it's sharp and sweet and refreshing all at once! I like them frozen rather than over ice. It's become my (alcoholic) drink of choice. It makes me think of oceans and summertime, and it kind of makes me long to take a road trip to a pretty beach. Which is kind of remarkable, since I'm not much of a beach person. I'm a mountains-girl all the way...and yet...yeah, this winter I was cherishing hopes of a trip to a beach some weekend. I don't think this is going to be my year for that, but oh well. Some other time, I guess.
Number 8- Grape Juice!
Some kids grow up drinking a lot of juice (real or syrup). With me and my siblings, juice was an enormous treat. Grape juice never lasted long in our house. But at one point, my dad started buying grape juice, and he let us have half a glass for special occasions like a family game night. He showed us how to "cut it" with water, so we could make it last longer. I was instantly a fan because it let me have a full glass to savor. Yes, the flavor wasn't as sharp, but at least I had grape juice!
I remember one night we were attempting to play "Clue," together for a family game night. My parents let us break out the grape juice and fixed us popcorn. The game was very difficult to learn, but the experience was fun. The next time we played Clue, I found myself craving grape juice, and so it became a little tradition. I still associate the "Whodunnit," mystery game with the flavor of grape juice.
I don't often win at Clue, but I love playing it. It was a very long process learning how, but it was worth it. Atmosphere is important to me in that game. Some minor-key slow jazz playing, grape juice, the smell of popcorn in the air, the pencils, the furtive scribbling...Hey, anyone up for a game of Clue?! Oh, right. Social distancing. Never mind.
There's something else that I associate grape juice with that's far more important. I grew up in a church, and I was saved as a young child, so I've taken the Lord's Supper for the majority of my life.
The Lord's Supper is a solemn, yet wonderful ordinance. It's not about the cracker and the juice, of course. Those are merely emblems that we use to remind us of Christ's death and resurrection. He, God come in the flesh, allowed his body to be broken and handed over to be the sacrifice to pay sinners' ransom. He allowed His blood--both human, and yet sinless--to be spilled for us in a horrifying and torturous death. We take communion once a month at our church. We remember. We thank Him. We center our minds on Christ once more. It's a wonderful spiritual discipline.
Grape juice always reminds me of that, even when I pour myself a glass and take the first sip from it. It's sharp and earthy, sweet, but with a tang. It tastes like forgiveness; a reminder that my conscience has been cleansed. It is sorrow mingled with joy, love mingled with tears. Celebratory fruit, yet the color of blood. An acknowledgement of the bitterness of sin, but the promise that one day I will be summoned to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God. Welcomed because He bore my penalty.
Such a mundane drink, and yet what a holy and joyful purpose it serves!
The next few I'll be able to move through more quickly.
Number 7- Coca-Cola!
What can I say? I'm an all-American girl. I love Coca-Cola! And I'm from the South, so if you tell me you want "a coke," I assume you mean the drink Coca-Cola.
Coke is what I grew up drinking for celebratory occasions; it's very much a Saturday kind of drink. For parties, Family Roller Skating Nights, or the after-party of a basketball game. Or for taco or pizza nights! My mother always let us have caffeine-free Coke when she fixed us tacos or whenever Daddy ordered pizza for us. (And caffeine-free Coke, by the way, is actually amazing. When you're as sensitive to caffeine as I am, that's a massive blessing.)
My mother has a love for Coke Icees. Back when I was in high school, I'd have my violin lessons at 1pm on Wednesdays. Then afterward she and I would do all the grocery shopping for the week. She and I would get large Coke Icees together, it was kind of our thing. We would sing in the car together and talk about all kinds of things. Those were happy times. The taste of a Coke from a vending machine brings back those memories.
Number 6- Dr. Pepper!
I'm sorry...but I'm afraid I love Dr. Pepper even more than Coca-Cola. I don't know what it is, but gosh, it's delicious. At my first job I was shown a break room stocked with cans upon cans of all kinds of soft drinks...including piles of Dr. Pepper.
I could hear a heavenly choir singing "Ahhhhh-AAAHHHHHH!" in my mind as I was made to understand that we could partake of these untold riches as often as we pleased. It was bounty and generosity beyond my wildest dreams.
So I did. It was a marvelous freedom, and I delighted in it.
Yeah. There were days when I had to continuously chug Dr. Pepper just to keep myself from passing out right there at my desk. You know, from lack of sleep catching up to me from the last...ten nights or so. I didn't go to college, but from what I've been told, that bears some resemblance to the "college experience."
And of course, because I had no self-control, when I worked at Chick-fil-A, I was drinking ungodly amounts of caffeine six days a week. A few years ago I had a terrible migraine from caffeine withdrawal, and it really put things into perspective. I don't want to be dependent on caffeine! I don't want to rely on it in order to be awake and functioning in the morning. Or to be a decent person. I'm not sure when it became socially acceptable to be rude to people if you haven't had your coffee fix yet, but it sounds just like any other addiction to me. You've all seen the cutesy slogans on coffee mugs and t-shirts: "I can't be polite to you until I've drunk my coffee--don't you dare speak to me before I'm done!"
Yeah, more like, you're just a selfish person with an addiction.
At any rate, I had to go off caffeine cold turkey, and it's once again a treat for special occasions. Thanks a lot, former self.
Number 5- Tea!!
My (very old) self-description on the side of this blog says that I'm a tea-snob. That's still true. What's also true is that I have kind of burned out on sweet tea lately. But then, that could be because most sweet tea is caffeinated, and I can no longer drink it often.
I like chamomile or peppermint tea in the evenings for a calming, soothing drink, but my favorites are the loose-leaf black teas. The English blends, or the Indian chai. Which I can't have often. (*sigh*)
Number 4- Lemonade!
I'm sorry to put this above tea, but lemonade isn't caffeinated, and so it's something that I've been enjoying more recently.
When I say lemonade, I of course mean real lemons and water and sugar. Not powdered stuff. I have nothing against Country Time except, well, that it isn't the real deal.
Real lemonade is like drinking sunshine. On hot days, it's refreshing. So sour, so sweet, so cool. I crave it on rainy days, too. When I drink it on a rainy day, I feel as if I've got a cupful of drinkable sunshine.
Sometimes I like to slice up strawberries to put in it. Delectable. But no ice! Don't want to dilute that marvelous taste, now, do we? Just serve it chilled--NO ICE!
And now we reach the top three...
Number 3- Milkshakes/Floats.
Yep. Number three. It absolutely refused to be lower. Milkshakes are one of the best things in the culinary world to have ever been invented, as far as I'm concerned.
See, here's the thing. As much as I love dessert, there's a surprising number of them that I really don't care for.
For instance, I never have been much of a pie person. There are pies that I enjoy, but I don't ever get a "hankerin' " for a slice. Cobblers and fruit pies I can take or leave. When people serve me pie after dinner, I'll take a slice and eat it to be polite. I can taste that it's sweet. I can sort of appreciate it for what it is. But the sad truth is that after one bite, I just don't really want any more.
Cakes I'm a bit more inclined to, especially if it's homemade. (Or chocolate!) But store-bought birthday cakes smeared with piles of sugary frosting or coated with fondant--yuck. Weddings, parties, I can usually do without the cake. (Except yours, sis! Your cakes from scratch are divine, and I love them!)
Pastries are very British, but they're overrated. Cookies are nice, especially if they're hot out of the oven. Hmm, if I'm honest, cookies are pretty safe. I'm not as picky when it comes to cookies.
But brownies, ice cream, and chocolate are my JAM. My taste in desserts is obviously pretty low-brow. Custards, crumbles, tarts, tiramisu, lemon bars, trifles, baked puddings, creme brulee, cheesecake--meh. How about an enormous cup of blended ice cream with chocolate or toppings in it? YES!! I know it's bit child-like, but what can I say? They're simply the best.
I'm including floats in this, because they're practically the same thing. Root beer, coke, or Dr. Pepper floats, they're all marvelous. A case could even be made for my beloved caramel frappuccinos to fit in this category, because they're basically ice cream with coffee flavoring in them. I don't pretend to be a coffee drinker, you know.
Number 2- Water.
I know, I know. This probably should be number one because of how good it is for you. Well, that, and because if it wasn't for water, we couldn't drink at all!
I just can't realize how thirsty I am until I start drinking water throughout the day. Sadly, dehydration contributes to most of the headaches I have.
One summer some friends and I took a Saturday to canoe down a river. We didn't bring enough water with us. Nobody wanted to lug all the water bottles around, I guess. We had one or two bottles apiece for our sack lunch, but we were halfway down the river before we realized our mistake. It was a hot day, and the sun beat down on us as we glided along. Soon our shoulders were getting sore, and I at least could feel a painful sunburn forming.
The bus ride back to our cars had no air-conditioning, and even then it took us a while to drive to a restaurant. Exhausted, sunburned, ravenous, sore, and dehydrated, we tumbled into a tiny little Daisy Queen and ordered water the moment we entered. I requested mine without ice, and it arrived at our table just as I got back from washing my hands. I took it from the girl's hand and exclaimed "Glory Hallelujah!" with the utmost sincerity before I was gulping it shamelessly. She gave me a weird look, but I could not have cared less. I always bring plenty of water bottles on float trips now, and I even reapply sunscreen. (Oh my gosh, I'm an adult...!)
There's another story I want to tell. A few years ago, my brother and I were in Oxford, England for a week-long conference. One of the afternoons when the conference let out, one of my brother's professors offered to show us some of the C.S. Lewis and Tolkien sights in the city. Eagerly we agreed, and the little group set out together.
Now, let me just say, this was a spontaneous thing. I was wearing a dress and wedges and a very tiny purse. Also, I don't believe our dear professor had any deliberate plans before setting out. Not that it mattered. We knew nobody could give us a better tour of Oxford than him, and neither of us would have missed it, even if we'd known what was going to happen.
He showed us many wonderful places that afternoon, several of them obscure or out-of-the-way. There was even a sunken lane--Cuckoo Lane--which was a path that C.S. Lewis habitually walked. It was narrow and walled, with trees arching over at the top. It was quiet, shady, and altogether delightful. I genuinely mean no offense to our dear professor, who is one of the kindest, most charming, and courtly people I have ever met. But! His tour took up the entire afternoon, and I walked all over that city in my clunky white wedges.
Now--you never think of England as uncomfortably hot, right? You always see it portrayed as misty or rainy, or wintry, don't you? But it was July when we were there, and it was a very hot, stuffy kind of day. We were outside and on our feet for hours, and since we were walking through residential areas or college grounds, there really was nowhere to sit, and nowhere to get a drink or a snack.
I was having a good time with the group, and of course I was delighted to see the sights. But I was uncomfortably dressed and sweating profusely and getting very tired and footsore hours before it was time to think about dinner. What I most remember is how very thirsty I was. My mouth went pretty dry a few hours in, so I tried to keep my mouth closed. Hour after hour went by, and all at once I noticed that my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth! That frightened me. With an effort I unstuck it, and it gave way with a nasty sensation. In vain I bit my tongue and the sides of my mouth, which is a singer's trick to stimulate salivation in a dry mouth. There was no response at all. When I nervously ran my tongue around the inside of my mouth, it stuck to my teeth as well. My entire mouth was completely dry. There wasn't a thing I could do about it.
I confess that afternoon is all a blur in my mind. After I made my disconcerting discovery, we were out there for a good two hours longer. My brother and I had raging headaches, and I was getting dizzy. We walked and walked, until I got into that state of mind where I was beginning to think it would never actually end. But somehow we found ourselves back "in civilization," again: streets, cars, buildings, shops, and--Oh, thank the Lord!--a grocery store!! A real, actual grocery store with automatic doors and a breeze of real air-conditioning flowing out of it!
My brother asked the professor to stop for a moment, and he and I and a young lady we'd made friends with all staggered in with our last remaining energy. My memory seems to be almost tunnel vision at that point. I was scanning the shelves for a water bottle--I had no interest in anything else at that moment. I was too hot to even feel how hungry I was. I snatched up the biggest water bottle I saw, and--oh, why not?--a bottle of Dr. Pepper, too. My brother bought two water bottles and bottle of juice. Neither of us cared what it cost. We hurled ourselves to the check out and fumbled with our cash. Next thing I knew I was wrenching off the cap and pouring water down my throat.
I've been reliably told that there is a condition that some people are born with called "Synthesia." It means, "a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of color." I'm pretty sure I don't have this condition, but for that moment in my life I thought I did.
The very instant that cold water flooded my parched mouth, my whole mind exploded with music. I mean, it was loud, crashing, harmonious chords that overrode all thought in my brain. No, I didn't hear it with my ears. I suspect the relief--that's too weak a word--the deliverance and joy that my body felt translated itself in my mind as music. That's the best way I can describe it.
Immediately I understood a whole handful of Scriptures about water far better than I ever had before.
"Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country." (Prov. 25:25)
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters!" (Isa. 55:1)
"...Jesus stood up and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.' " (John 7:37)
And finally! Number 1! My very favorite drink of all--
Number 1-Milk.
Seems like a bit of a letdown, huh? All that rich Biblical imagery for grape juice and water, and my very favorite drink of all is milk. Well, there's plenty of Biblical imagery for milk as well, but I'll get to that in a minute.
I mentioned before that juice was a treat for us growing up. We drank milk instead, three meals a day, and I loved it. Nobody ever talks about how great it is to drink milk, unless they're referring to soy milk. Or rice milk. Or cashew milk. Or pretty much any kind of milk except for cow's milk. I suspect most people think it's babyish to talk about drinking a glass of milk. Either that or most people just don't like milk; but it can't be that. I mean, have you seen how upset people get when there's no milk for their cereal? Geez!
Milk is my absolute favorite thing to drink because it pairs with practically everything.
Breakfast food, eggs, bacon, cereal (naturally), toast with jam, waffles, pancakes, muffins, you name it. Milk goes splendidly with all of them. It mystifies me how people seem to prefer orange juice with their breakfast food. A bite of pancakes and syrup, then a swig of orange juice on top? Blech! Milk is far better.
The creaminess of milk compliments all breakfast foods, be they sweet, light, or hearty. And then I think that its creaminess also compliments the savory of "dinner," meals. Call me crazy, but it just works! And of course milk pairs well with most desserts (especially the desserts I'm partial to.)
I meant to spend a lot of time describing how well they pair, but now that I think of it, either you get it or you don't. There's no use attempting to account for taste, I suppose. I just happen to think milk goes wonderfully with most things. It's a nice thing to reach for if you want something to drink that isn't water. It's a little more filling than water, much pleasanter than water (unless you've been staggering in the summer heat for hours with a dry tongue!), and it works with any snack or dessert. (The only exception I can think of would be sour candy, or something like that.)
When I can't sleep at night, a delightful thing to do is to slip into the kitchen and heat up a mug of milk, then stir in a spoonful of honey. Yeah, yeah, I know it's not the healthiest thing to do, and in my defense, I don't do that very often. But then, I don't usually have trouble sleeping, either.
Drinking warm milk is an almost instant sedative for me. Something about it is so soothing that after a few sips I feel my knotted muscles begin to relax. Halfway through the mug and my eyelids are beginning to droop...and then sleep is stealing over me, warm and familiar and comforting, like an old friend.
I've often thought how nice it would be to have a child come to me, frightened by a nightmare, and to take them to the kitchen to make mugs of warm milk and honey for us both. Then we'd sit talking quietly over them, discussing their dream. I'd comfort them with reality and with truth. And I'd watch in amusement as their eyelids start to droop and their little tousled head begin to nod...and then it'd be off to bed again, tucking them in with a sleepy hug and a kiss.
Just a little fantasy of mine. I'm sure the reality wouldn't be nearly that quiet or tidy. But I can dream.
Anyway, milk has rich symbolism in the Bible, too. Milk is for nourishment, comfort, and even luxury. The pure milk of the Word for those new in the faith, leading to the solid food for the spiritually hungry and growing believers.
Milk and honey were the promises God made for His people. He promised to lead them to a good land that was bountiful and lovely. Again from Isaiah 55, He calls out that he who has no money may come "buy and eat!" of the riches of God's undeserved favor. Wine, for celebration. Water for refreshment, and milk for comfort and sustaining.
But all this talk of warm milk has made me sleepy, and it is high time I went to bed. Everyone stay safe, wash your hands, take precautions. Be good citizens and go along with the whole social distancing for your own good. Be responsible and show the government we can take care of ourselves. Reach out to those around you via technology, and don't forget to read God's Word and listen to sermons and worship at home as best you can.
That's all for tonight, folks!
~Cadenza
