An inseparable component of writer lore is drinking. Ernest Hemingway and his daiquiris. Charles Bukowski and his boilermakers. Dorothy Parker and her scotch. To celebrate the drafting of the Constitution, the Founding Fathers consumed legendary quantities of wine.
When we think of nostalgic writer tropes, there's the typewriter, a wooden desk, wads of discarded manuscript paper, smoke curling from a cigarette parked in an ashtray, and a bottle of hooch nearby. The typewriter and paper have been replaced by a laptop, the wooden desk exists in one form or another, few of us smoke, but a bottle of some adult beverage remains at hand. I remember fondly the opening and closing parties of Lighthouse Litfest, with dozens of us writers crammed on the porch, drinks at the ready. Seems like the best conversations at writer conventions happen at bar con, us scribes nursing cocktails, either bellyaching about the publishing industry or trading gossip. Good times.
Which for me have come to an end, sadly. About a year ago I began to get a headache after consuming even small amounts of spirits, followed by a mild hangover. I tried different alcohols and mixes but the results were the same. I laid off drinking for several weeks, hoping it might be a passing reaction. Unfortunately, no. The evening after I buried Dirk, if there was ever an occasion for a drink, this was the time, so I sipped a half-glass of red wine. The headache made its dreadful appearance, and the next day I suffered a double whammy from the hangover plus the guilt of losing my sweet, handsome dog.
Teetotalers relentlessly preach the evils of King Alcohol. The ethyl alcohol in liquor is toxic to your liver. A hangover is symptomatic of the poisoning. The long and heavy consumption of alcohol can cause cirrhosis. Also consider the effects on your brain not to mention impaired decision-making and lives ruined by alcoholism.
On the other hand, before the first bread was ever made, people were already imbibing beer or mead. The early cavemen looked forward to their daily cups to celebrate surviving the prehistoric wilderness. Every culture in the world has some form of fermented beverage. Few things smooth the rough edges of putting up with our fellow human beings like a little sauce.
Despite the screeching by modern-day Temperance scolds, people who drink light to moderate amounts of booze tend to enjoy longer and happier lives. Why? Because alcohol is a social lubricant. Those types of drinkers are better adjusted, more emotionally grounded, and more fun to be around. And frankly, I miss wine tastings and happy hour cocktails.
If you're not drinking and are in the Denver area, mark these events on your calendar.
The Scorned Lovers Anti-Valentine's Show at Prismajic.
Erotic readings from the works of Kim Kennedy and Helen Hardt with interpretive burlesque. Romance advice from the Love Sultan. Fire dance. The bashing of the Scorned Lovers Piñata, filled with naughty gifts. Fashion. Music. Cocktails. An Immersive Art Experience.
Friday the 13th, February, 2026. 7-10pm Tickets online $20. Get them here.
Check out the Jefferson County Library's In Conversation with Lisa Gardner, emceed by Carter Wilson, along with a panel of local authors, including me.
Saturday, February 21. Noon to 4pm. Mile Hi Church, Lakewood, CO. Register here.
