I'm an oenophile in the best possible way. Not the snobby I-don't-even-get-out-of-bed-for-bargain-wine kind of way, because even two buck chuck serves his purpose. Somewhere. But, in the way that says "Hi honey, I'm home" or "The long work day is winding down" or "I'm slightly warmer and calmer after a glass of Cabernet" or ... feel free to insert your own adventure here.
Wine is yummy and sexy and artful when produced properly. Plus, it's respected. You never hear about high-schoolers lining up shots of vino. Slamming wine coolers, yes. Wine, not so much. Coeds don't fire up a round of Asshole with a case of Pinot. And, you'll be hard-pressed to find "fitty cent taps" of Merlot on any college campus. It's simply not done.
I was going to do a post about how the economy has turned many Americans into smarter spenders - perhaps even this superconsumer - and how I need to cancel my wine clubs to comply with this new brand of limited consumerism. I just haven't been able to pull the trigger on that yet.
Even in the twenty-sixth week of my pregnancy, delayed at the Minneapolis airport for the second time in two weeks until well after ten pm, I am having a glass of Pinot Noir ... at the airport ... in front of people. Yep - pregnant, airport wine in public. The reactions are mixed and I'm taking it all in stride.
I'm no poser; I imbibe in public. Women will overwhelmingly affirm my decision to partake, "Good for you", or "I drank when I was pregnant and my kids are fine" or something else tantamount to the fact that our moms were probably shit-faced when pregnant with us. "You go girl." Woo Hoo!
Conversely, men and any server (of either gender) under the age of twenty-three will inevitably give dirty looks. Mmm hmm. The non-baby-havers are the judgmental ones, for the most part. Go figure.
I personally don't care, and I don't judge other people - especially women. It's not in my nature to harm my child and I do not have a drinking problem, so I assume others are capable of deciding when and where a drink is appropriate.
However, a pregnant woman enjoying a glass of wine or a beer at diner raises more eyebrows than your average thirty five year-old Chicago boy polishing off several car-bombs following a continuous stream of cocktails on any given friday night, while groping the ill-formed butt cheek of some strange, young and equally shit-faced girl. It's truly something to behold.
So do you, or don't you indulge while pregnant? Please post a comment and share your fuss with us.
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