I went on my first beer run.

 

Beer Run http://www.urbandictionary.com/
1) The act of having to leave one’s present location (house, apartment, yacht, etc) during a social gathering so as to acquire more beer. This typically occurs when the previous supply of beer has run dry, thus necessitating the need to “run out and get some more beer,” i.e. “beer run.”

  

courtesy: winkpass.com

courtesy: winkpass.com

Yes, as in I’m pushing 50 years old, and this was my first ever beer run.

This was a big deal considering my strained and suspicious relationship with alcohol.    

 

Drinking is bad. 

Drinking will make me an alcoholic. 

Drinking in front of my kids will contribute to them being alcoholics. 

Buying alcohol is embarrassing.

 

Thankfully, being around others who are drinking has become less and less anxiety producing over the last several years.  And, in the last year or so, I’ve even become increasingly comfortable having my own occasional beer or glass of wine without worrying I’ll become an alcoholic.

But back to the beer run…

Our daughter and son-in-law were in town and they hadn’t seen extended family since their wedding in September.  To remedy this unfortunate fact, we hosted a Sunday brunch with about a dozen family members.  The brunch gradually evolved into a football party – our Seattle Seahawks had made it into the playoffs!  It’s second nature for me to keep the food coming, but not alcohol.  And certainly not at 1:30 in the afternoon!  Shortly after kick-off, I saw my son-in-law enjoying a beer and it slowly occurred to me this was a ‘beer event’ and we didn’t have many left.

I was standing behind my daughter and husband and leaned in to whisper “Should I go on a beer run?”  I’m pretty sure my daughter sustained whiplash she turned her head around so quickly.  She started to giggle and I innocently asked “What’s so funny?” – knowing exactly what was so funny.  She said “I’ve never heard you say THAT before!”  My husband’s eyes were a little wide, too, when he replied “Sure!” So off I went on my first ever beer run.

Throwing caution to the wind, I strolled down the beer aisle and thought to myself, “I’m buying beer in the middle of the day and I don’t care who sees me.”  I was nearly giddy with the thrill of freedom –free of fear, free of judgment, and free of shame.  I even had the presence of mind to grab both light and dark beer.  Then, for good measure, I made a side trip down the chip aisle.  This was my first beer run, and I was going to do it up right!

Upon my return, nearly everyone, including me, had a beer and we enjoyed watching the Seahawks beat the Redskins. 

I had a victory of my own that day as I defeated fear one more time.

Touchdown!

How about you?  What fears have you defeated?