Thank-you, Michael, for your seasonal wishes. Oh that all of us could be as merry and bright as we wish and not a bit more if we don’t want to be. I may try that eggnog recipe if I can find three friends willing to indulge. Wouldn’t want to have to drink it all myself.
Thank you, Virginia. I wound up giving half the eggnog to my neighbor. I meted out the rest to myself over the next couple of evenings. Then again, I don't mind drinking by myself.
I hope you celebrate (or not) as needed. My father passed away in August. Thanksgiving was weird (I think we were all trying to ignore his absence). Christmas promises to be even more weird and uncomfortable since my mother (understandably) doesn’t want to observe, much less celebrate, Christmas. I want to crawl into bed and pull the duvet over my head for a long winter’s nap.
Well, I'll never look at egg nog again without thinking "AAYYE, Matey." Sorry you're also grieving. I'm with you.I have so many friends that are, I keep worrying I've forgotten to check in on someone. This story was wonderful and an oasis. Thank you.
This geriatric lady buccaneer (think Ann Bonny, but getting along in years) will have to try this recipe. Planning to spend Christmas with a crustless pecan pie … and it’s all for me. Wishing you comfort and joy (if and when you can find it).
I love a lady pirate AND pecan pie filling! I know where my comfort and joy comes from, fortunately and I intend to give myself a small dose this season. I hope you do, too.
I was today years old when I learned that egg yolks have a temper! Are they distant cousins of my mother, I wonder? Few enticements could persuade me to attend a holiday party at this stage of my life, but the guarantee of a pirate parked next to the eggnog is one of them! Happy holidays to you and all of my fellow holiday hibernators!
Michael this is touching and sweet and hilarious in the way that grief meets absurdity and gives us a momentary reprieve from it. I am sorry for your loss and wish you and your family all good things in the New Year.
You have such a gentle and yet pointed way of describing the excitement/dread so many of us feel for the holidays.
That being said, any suggestions on how best to double/treble this concoction? I just served a lovely Beige Ukrainian from a giant dispenser Friday at my first Holiday party in years (to be clear, the Beige Ukrainian was the name of the drink, not the guest).
"Gentle yet pointed". I like that. Perhaps it's because I've had so much practice. And you are going to have to explain this Beige Ukrainian to me, Is it like a White Russian, but more democratic?
The Pagans knew exactly what to do with this cold, dark, and complicated month. Question is, were they just hung over for all of January? I mean, WTH? Be well, Michael, and see you in the next effed up year. 🥰
Loved this article. I am on an eggnog kick, and my final recipe is simliar to yours. I am trying all kinds of booze combos. I found one that combines tequila and sherry! But I also loved the ability fo find humor in your sad situation. I remember my first Christmas after my mother died a few years ago. I have 12 siblings and we were all apprehensive. But it turned out to be a beautiful magical Christmas in her country home with snowfall, and ice skating on our pond that happened to freeze, with a big bonfire, and tons of drinking to drown our sorrows. And yes, we did have eggnog!
Let me guess...the tequila and sherry one came from Lebovitz. I've knocked a few back with him in Mexico once, so I'm not surprised. Also, your family has their own pond? I'm glad that Christmas worked out well. I'll bet your mother would have been very happy about it.
I’d invite you to pop over and not celebrate with me and something boozy but that’s quite a trek for a holiday neither one of us celebrates but misery does love company and eggnog. And you’re a master storyteller 💜
I'll bet we'd have a great non-celebration together. Perhaps we can meet up nearer to Halloween next year and wring our hands in unison about the upcoming election.
Thank you for sharing your stories (and eggnog) with us. Remembering our passed loved ones with a good story keeps their, and hopefully our, spirit alive. Wish you peace.
I have never been a fan of eggnog (having never participated in or witnessed such a great jeu de scène as the wheeling out of <obviously> a retired pirate and the punchbowl procession). But I have been to a raucous, delightful Noche Buena celebration where I sampled COQUITO, and have become a fan. Maybe watching the PR father pouring out drinks for everyone from a skull decanter just made it super fun. That single evening changed my traditional bah-humbug Holiday spirit .. so I hope you find some comfort and joy in your eggnog, and hunker in til NYE. Not an easy time of year. 😘
"Jeu de scène" is an excellent phrase I must remember and now all I want is coquito, IF only I could convince someone to make it for me. And I have an actual human skull, but I think there are too many holes in it to make a decent decanter. Wishing you a lovely New Year.
Thank-you, Michael, for your seasonal wishes. Oh that all of us could be as merry and bright as we wish and not a bit more if we don’t want to be. I may try that eggnog recipe if I can find three friends willing to indulge. Wouldn’t want to have to drink it all myself.
Thank you, Virginia. I wound up giving half the eggnog to my neighbor. I meted out the rest to myself over the next couple of evenings. Then again, I don't mind drinking by myself.
Since I live alone, drinking by myself is the usual option. Bearing in mind my heritage, I try to be moderate, and generally succeed.
I have a similar heritage.
I hope you celebrate (or not) as needed. My father passed away in August. Thanksgiving was weird (I think we were all trying to ignore his absence). Christmas promises to be even more weird and uncomfortable since my mother (understandably) doesn’t want to observe, much less celebrate, Christmas. I want to crawl into bed and pull the duvet over my head for a long winter’s nap.
Thank you and stay well.
I'm sorry to read that about your father, Teri. You have every right to a Christmas in bed.
Well, I'll never look at egg nog again without thinking "AAYYE, Matey." Sorry you're also grieving. I'm with you.I have so many friends that are, I keep worrying I've forgotten to check in on someone. This story was wonderful and an oasis. Thank you.
Thanks, Jacqueline. I don't think my writing has ever been referred to as an oasis before. I'm stashing that into my memory hole.
Not a happy time and the darkness of winter adds to the already heavy weight of raw sorrow. Peace, Michael.
Oh god. I sometimes find myself wanting to crawl into bed by 7pm because the darkness confuses my brain. Peace unto you, too, Cynthia.
Thank you.
This geriatric lady buccaneer (think Ann Bonny, but getting along in years) will have to try this recipe. Planning to spend Christmas with a crustless pecan pie … and it’s all for me. Wishing you comfort and joy (if and when you can find it).
I love a lady pirate AND pecan pie filling! I know where my comfort and joy comes from, fortunately and I intend to give myself a small dose this season. I hope you do, too.
I was today years old when I learned that egg yolks have a temper! Are they distant cousins of my mother, I wonder? Few enticements could persuade me to attend a holiday party at this stage of my life, but the guarantee of a pirate parked next to the eggnog is one of them! Happy holidays to you and all of my fellow holiday hibernators!
Yolks are mean sons-o'-bitches, John. Wishing you so much joy it makes you puke.
Michael this is touching and sweet and hilarious in the way that grief meets absurdity and gives us a momentary reprieve from it. I am sorry for your loss and wish you and your family all good things in the New Year.
We take our amusements when and where we can find them, right? Thank you, Jolene, my sister and I deserve good things in 2024. Especially my sister!
We sure do. :)
The description of "booze-laced drinking custard" will stay with me always!
May you have a gentle Holiday season, taking joy from the memories of those now gone.
"A gentle Holiday season" is a very lovely thought. And that is precisely how I've always thought of fresh eggnog. Glad you will now, too.
You have such a gentle and yet pointed way of describing the excitement/dread so many of us feel for the holidays.
That being said, any suggestions on how best to double/treble this concoction? I just served a lovely Beige Ukrainian from a giant dispenser Friday at my first Holiday party in years (to be clear, the Beige Ukrainian was the name of the drink, not the guest).
"Gentle yet pointed". I like that. Perhaps it's because I've had so much practice. And you are going to have to explain this Beige Ukrainian to me, Is it like a White Russian, but more democratic?
Yes, similar to a White Russian, but add NATO-approved Baileys Irish Cream in addition to Kahlua, and either American or French vodka.
The Pagans knew exactly what to do with this cold, dark, and complicated month. Question is, were they just hung over for all of January? I mean, WTH? Be well, Michael, and see you in the next effed up year. 🥰
A 31-day hangover sounds like a nightmare. You be well, too, John.
Loved this article. I am on an eggnog kick, and my final recipe is simliar to yours. I am trying all kinds of booze combos. I found one that combines tequila and sherry! But I also loved the ability fo find humor in your sad situation. I remember my first Christmas after my mother died a few years ago. I have 12 siblings and we were all apprehensive. But it turned out to be a beautiful magical Christmas in her country home with snowfall, and ice skating on our pond that happened to freeze, with a big bonfire, and tons of drinking to drown our sorrows. And yes, we did have eggnog!
Let me guess...the tequila and sherry one came from Lebovitz. I've knocked a few back with him in Mexico once, so I'm not surprised. Also, your family has their own pond? I'm glad that Christmas worked out well. I'll bet your mother would have been very happy about it.
Much appreciation for the sentiments and other enlightenments shared, you are a gem Michael, wishing a safe & happier New Year.
A gem, eh? Thank you! Happy New Year to you, too, Shire.
Multifaceted, highly polished gem with a jagged edge that keeps things interesting! A rock hound compliment. 🤗
I like that a lot. Thank you.
I’d invite you to pop over and not celebrate with me and something boozy but that’s quite a trek for a holiday neither one of us celebrates but misery does love company and eggnog. And you’re a master storyteller 💜
I'll bet we'd have a great non-celebration together. Perhaps we can meet up nearer to Halloween next year and wring our hands in unison about the upcoming election.
It’s a date!
Hurrah!
Thank you for sharing your stories (and eggnog) with us. Remembering our passed loved ones with a good story keeps their, and hopefully our, spirit alive. Wish you peace.
Thank you, Mary Kay. And at the risk of sounding like a Catholic priest, peace unto you, too.
OMG! How did you know I was Catholic!
I know a lot about my readers...
...like "Zoltan", and I don't even gotta put a quarter in ya!
(Just a subscription but, like a Supreme Court Justice, your worth 10 times the price!)
Thank you, Mary Kay. Although I hope I poll better than a Supreme Court Justice.
LOL....now I see my error. Should have said UNlike a Supreme Court Justice, your worth 10 times the price!
I also admit, my wit is not the sharpest. I'll keep reading, and learning, from the pro!
I have never been a fan of eggnog (having never participated in or witnessed such a great jeu de scène as the wheeling out of <obviously> a retired pirate and the punchbowl procession). But I have been to a raucous, delightful Noche Buena celebration where I sampled COQUITO, and have become a fan. Maybe watching the PR father pouring out drinks for everyone from a skull decanter just made it super fun. That single evening changed my traditional bah-humbug Holiday spirit .. so I hope you find some comfort and joy in your eggnog, and hunker in til NYE. Not an easy time of year. 😘
"Jeu de scène" is an excellent phrase I must remember and now all I want is coquito, IF only I could convince someone to make it for me. And I have an actual human skull, but I think there are too many holes in it to make a decent decanter. Wishing you a lovely New Year.
Your writing is a gift. I mean, you made me laugh out loud about an old man with a missing eye and limb. Wishing you all good things in 2024 xo
A gift! Thank you, Domenica. Happy 2024 to you as well.