Saturday, September 6, 2008

A Lone Star Tradition

The other night Mike and I were blessed with the chance to go on a real date--no kids for five hours--dinner and a movie. I don't think we've done both together for at least five years!

For dinner, we went to a local Tex Mex spot and enjoyed the frozen margarhettias--I even had one and half--something I almost never do since I am still nursing Spanky. I figured I should be OK if I kept munching on the stuffed jalepenos and Hatch chili quesadillas.

Anyway, next to us was a table of two middle aged couples plus a much older couple--my guess, one of the younger person's parents. The waiter stood on their bench and announced to the entire restaurant it was the older woman's birthday, her 21st birthday.

Me, being a bit happy on tequilla myself mentioned that everyone who turns 21 should have a shot of tequlia.

My ever social husband Mike turns to the birthday 'girl' and asks if she would like to do a shot. The entire table explodes in laughter and birthday girl looks directly at Mike and says "Sure".

Mike calls over the waiter and tells him what he'd like to do. A true salesman, the waiter asks if we want the good tequila since it is her '21st' birthday after all.

"Absolutely," says Mike. "1800 Cuervo."

The waiter disappears and quickly returns with a shot, mentioning to Mike and everyone else that when she got sick, Mike would have to clean it up.

The birthday girl is handed her shot of 1800, a lime and a salt shaker. The entire place is now in a trance watching her. The room is silent. 

Her daughter (or maybe daughter-in-law) softly explains how to take a shot. 

Lick, slam, suck.

The rest of the table pulls out cell phones to capture the moment on digital film.

The birthday girl looks worried.

"You know, " Mike leans over to her. "You only want to take a sip and then share it with the table. That's what you do."

She suddenly looks at ease, licks the salt on her wrist, takes a small sip and shoves the lime in her puckered mouth. The restaurant explodes in cheers. The 1800 is passed down and enjoyed by the rest of the table--the anchor man at the end finishing off the remaining 3/4.

The table cannot stop laughing and begin to discuss how to put the moment on Youtube or at least somewhere in cyberspace. The daughter (or maybe daughter-in-law) is worried her siblings will never let mom visit Texas again. 

They are having the an amazing time.

Mike and I check our watches and realize we are late for our date with The Dark Night at the movie theater across the way.

The birthday girl stops us and thanks us. She confesses she just turned 83. And she was having a great night. We wish her a happy birthday and disappear in the crowd, giddy with the joy we brought to a complete table of strangers for the cost of a shot of 1800. It was one of those random acts of kindness I hope we can repeat again and again. Maybe not in the form of alcohol but somehow, somewhere for someone.

And I have to admit I plan on googling 'old woman doing a tequila shot' to see if it ever made it to the net :)


32 comments:

Jackie said...

Oh, I wish I could've been there to see that...you totally made her night!

Amanda said...

Sounds like just what you needed, a great night out with the hubbby~children free!
l,
Amanda x
( hope you enjoyed the movie too! )

Anonymous said...

That's a wonderful story! I even made my hubby pause the movie he's watching to hear it.

Glad you had such a wonderful night!

Sue Wilkey said...

What a great story!! And now their family has a 'classic" to tell.

p.s. love your Michael Buble music- did you see him on the Today show yesterday?

Laural Out Loud said...

Five whole hours! Glad your five hours turned into such a great night, for both you and the other family!

Gretchen said...

You are so sweet! Sounds like your husband is a lot of fun too.

Unknown said...

I love how your "random act of kindness" was a tequila shot for the elderly!! Too funny...

Carol said...

Too funny.

Dinner and a movie? I have forgotten what that is like!

4funboys said...

what's a date???

good for you that you know!!!

and even better for the ones who got a shot!!! hope someone returns the favor soon!

Anonymous said...

Great story! What fun! I wish we had gone too! :-)

Anonymous said...

That was great! (and very nice of you guys)

Brian and Staci said...

Just getting in from the game (wow were we bad in the first half!) and checking in on my favorite people! (That's you!) I love several things about this post...1) that you got to go on a date with your hubby! 2)That you did a random act of kindness! I LOVE THAT! And it sounds like everyone else did too :) I've never had a shot...you've inspired me!!!! Isn't that funny...you've "inspired" me to drink! You bad girl you :) Tomorrow will be our 11th anniversary and maybe...after the shot...Brian will get lucky :) (OR have to clean up a huge gross mess!)

Anonymous said...

Aww she was old. Bless her heart!

Kinda reminds me of the scene in Patch Adams where he puts the old lady in a pool of noodles.

A thrill for the elderly. Ha ha!

CC said...

That sounds awesome! and I totally had a picture of this young adorable girl until the end there!!

Anonymous said...

hhahahahahahahh!!

Date Nites are THE BEST!!!

Anonymous said...

I hope I'm sitting near you guys the next time I turn 21! How fun is that.

Melissa said...

I would have wanted to see that!

KC said...

LOL how fun.. now if you find it on line, let us know where. We all want to see that.

Anti-Supermom said...

Lucky you and husband, five hours is a long time to be away from children (I'm so jealous)

and to top it off, tequila :)

Burgh Baby said...

That was SO sweet of you!

Momo Fali said...

That is AWESOME! What a great story!

OHmommy said...

Awwww.... I think I need a night out with my husband. ;)

Rachel said...

That is so sweet and absolutely wonderful.
Sounds like y'all just made someone's family, a forever story.

Absolutely wonderful.

mah-meeee said...

what a great story! wish i was there to see that.

you & your hubby always seem to have so much fun together even after 4 kids! (you must share the secret... really!)

Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart said...

I would have loved to have seen that! How great!

I will admit however, that I had a hard time reading after I read the words date and five hours. My mouth hung open for just a bit. I managed to banish my jealously and keep reading. :) Glad I did.

Grace Acres said...

very fun, I am hoping for a date in my near future with my husband, it is a great time.

Blessings From Above said...

A great lesson!

I am glad you enjoyed your date as well!

andreawilliams said...

Ha! How fun :) I would of paid top dollar to see that.

Purple Teacup said...

Awesome. You totally deserved a date!

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

one of the best stories i've heard in a long time...love it. thanks for sharing!

EatPlayLove said...

how fun, I just enjoyed my first 3 drinks in succession after weaning, boy was it a delight.

JCK said...

Keep Googling. It will turn up. And then you have to show us.

Congrats on getting out and performing good deeds as well.