Julia, You are truly one of a kind and I enjoy reading what you have to say because you do not candy-coat it. I too love to share a cold beverage which is usually wine, however, I do ask my date before hand if it is OK.
Some people just don't drink and respect that. Some as someone said before may be in recovery. I respect that to the enth degree.
Maybe I should not say this, however I got a DWI in2000. It was on my birthday and the officer pulled me over for going 60 in a 45 zone. He smelled the wine and I went to the poky that night until my twin brother came and got me.
I did not have a bond, yet the disgust on my Brother's face and his words along with his body language made me look in the mirror.
I had to take the little test to seek how many sessions I would have to attend and it was only 4. Yet, I did get up the nerve to have a friend drop me off at a meeting and at first it was tough not drinking, yet I did it for 4 years.
Then I have to say I knew I was not an alcoholic, yet, by going to the program, I was actually able to see and heal many wounds without knocking myself out. I really never expected to stay that long yet I was having a blast. I had a broken foot at the time so I probably went to 14 meeting a week, and I would clean the room, empty the ashtrays, and went places with the group. We went to the beach,, out to dinner on Saturday, etc.
I do have to say one of my problems at the time was I was lonely and even when I did start to have a cocktail here and there, I still went to meetings because I felt so spiritual before, during and after the meetings.
Probably To much information, yet when I started in this profession it was very hard to see that glistening bottle of wine that the other person was swiveling around, smelling it and then kissing me with it
From my experience in life I can do with or without it, I highly respect a person who is choosing to spend time with me to honor their dream date. NUff said. Kelley