Don Draper’s got nothing on COVID19! Madmen may have inspired me to buy a few mixology books while dreaming of effortless cocktails and stylish heels, but COVID19 has spurred me to dust off the cocktail shaker read up on the distinction between shaken and stirred. I know I am not alone in this liqueur infused fantasy of elegant drinks to celebrate the dusky hour of each passing day. Recently my daughter showed me a trending video snippet on TikTok featuring a mother and daughter clad in swimsuits and leopard print heading out to their patio for their “54th” consecutive happy hour. The mother carried the revered chrome cocktail shaker and performed a little dance for the camera. When hours of the day have been rendered meaningless and one day merges quietly into the next, we need to find ways to maintain the sanctity of time and the rhythm of life. These quiet happy hours do more than just tick off days on the calendar. The drinks once relegated to special occasions and social gatherings offer the promise of glamor and indulgence in a time that offers little incentive for ditching our pajamas. Unlike Betty and Don, when my husband and I wrap our fingers around a gin and tonic or a simple gimlet (drinks that require minimal ingredients) we wear the day’s grime in our disheveled sweats and t-shirts. And more often than not, those gin and tonics look suspiciously like a can of craft beer.

Cheers! Here’s to you and social distancing. Your drink looks mighty fine on Zoom, and your flip-flops are the perfect choice for the occasion!