Raise Your Glass

Raise Your Glass

Tonight, I attended a murder mystery dinner with a neighbor and friend who’s been becoming a bigger part of my life over the past year. It was such an amazing night—filled with laughter, excitement, and a few gin and tonics. Those moments where you’re simply living in the present are special, and I found myself deeply enjoying every bit of it.

But as I chatted later with a friend of a friend I’ve recently reconnected with, something small yet significant came up. I mentioned I was drinking gin and tonics at the dinner, and he remarked how it’s not usually his drink of choice. That’s when I found myself thinking back to why it became mine.

It’s not a drink I would have chosen years ago either. But after my Mom’s funeral, my Dad, a big fan of gin and tonics, made drinks for me, my sister, my brother, and himself. We raised our glasses together, toasting in memory of Mom. That moment—bittersweet, poignant, filled with both sadness and love—has stayed with me. Now, every time I take a sip of a gin and tonic, I’m transported back to that night. It’s a reminder of the love I have for my family, the strength that binds us, and the memory of my Mom, always with us.

Tonight, though, the gin and tonic wasn't just a drink. It was a bridge between the past and the present—between a memory of loss and an evening of joy and connection. It made me think about how our memories are woven into the smallest things, how the people we love stay with us in ways we don’t always expect. And how, even while missing those we’ve lost, we can celebrate the moments we have now and look forward to reconnecting with friends, both old and new.

So, tonight, I raise my glass. To my Mom, to my family, to the memories that keep us grounded, and to the new connections that keep life full of surprises.

xoxoxo
-The Not So Common Gal
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