21: The age at which you become a true adult. The legal drinking age. The age of potentially bad decisions.
I had the whole weekend of my 21st birthday planned out with my friends and family. This definitely included shopping, because you have to shop for any birthday. But all I really wanted was to order my first drink at a restaurant and go to a liquor store, where I would carry the bottles and show my ID. Very exciting times.
You might be wondering how the weekend went or what I did or what I had to drink. Don’t panic; I documented it.
Saturday, noon
The family is excited to give me my gifts because my sister thinks she’s just so funny and has to go a little overboard. Between the shot glasses, shooters, wine and some accessories, I think I am all set to have a good time.
Thanks, Mom and Dad for the Starbucks gift card — as my mom says, I’m going to need it tomorrow morning. Coffee is great, but they could’ve at least got me some Advil too.
Saturday, 6 p.m.
I am going to dinner with my parents to one of my favorite restaurants: Texas Roadhouse. At this point it isn’t my birthday yet; I still have six hours to go. All I want is a margarita, but no. I can’t yet. So, I order the usual raspberry lemonade.
My sister wants to order a drink and give it to me, but my parents said that we shouldn’t do that. They do have a point though. My sister is pregnant so the restaurant probably wouldn’t serve her alcohol anyways.
Saturday, 8 p.m.
Time for bowling. It has become a tradition to go bowling on my birthday with the family, and previously I have watched them drink without me. Well, at this point I still have four hours left, so I get to continue watching them drink without me. So sad. They enjoy every minute of it, too. Good thing I took that shooter in the car before we went in.
Saturday, midnight
My brother-in-law is ready to party and start taking shots. I am not amused because I know the following day will be eventful and full of drinks, so I decide to pace myself. I decline the shots and call it a night. It’s past my bedtime anyway.
Sunday, 9 a.m.
I don’t consider myself a morning person. At all. Today is my birthday though, and I have to meet the family for breakfast — which means morning mimosas! Shout out to Mimi’s Café for having the best mimosas. White peach is the best, and no one can change my mind.
Sunday, noon
The family has left, but the friends have arrived. We are just taking it easy and simply going to lunch at Olive Garden. Can’t go too big yet. Berry sangria is the best thing ever. Of course, Olive Garden has great food and breadsticks, but the alcoholic beverages are so good. I definitely recommend the sangria. 10/10 for sure.
Sunday, 6 p.m.
Time for dinner. Guess where we went? Yes, you’re right! Back to Texas Roadhouse. Margarita time! If you are 21 (and drink), you better be getting a Texas Roadhouse margarita. No exceptions. Otherwise, don’t even bother going. I started with a frozen sangria margarita. Clearly there is a pattern. I like sangria. After finishing that one, I decided to try a frozen peach margarita.
The consensus? That drink is dangerous. It is delicious, and I don’t think I will ever order anything else. I may or may not have drank this one a little fast. Oops. 12/10. Can I also just add how fun it is to get carded? People complain all the time about having to get their ID out, or say “carded again?” I say no! It’s fun and I hope to get carded every time.
Sunday, 8 p.m.
Ha! I almost put Saturday. It’s not Saturday. It is now Sunday.
Liquor store time. I have to say, I am impressed with the selection. Couldn’t tell you what store I’m at, but the selection is wonderful. I want to try everything, but don’t worry. I have contained myself. I start with some vodka, grab a six-pack of hard ciders and a bottle of peach Moscato. Moscato is the best, so you’ll need to try this as well. I also get a huge can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Woohoo! The liquor store run is a success.
Sunday 9 p.m.
We are bringing the drinks back to where we are staying so we can play games and, of course, drink. I take a couple of shots of vodka. I think I drink some wine, too. I know I have something else, but now I can’t remember… Oh yes! It’s the hard cider. That’s what I have. We put on a movie about super pets. I most definitely fall asleep.
Monday
No specific time stamp is needed. I don’t do anything on Monday. I lay on the couch all day and watch SpongeBob. We DoorDash all of our meals, and I don’t think I move from the couch until it is time for bed. Don’t worry, I don’t have class.
Overall, it was a great birthday. I got to hang out with close friends and family, order drinks and I went to a Carrie Underwood concert. It was a great time. It feels weird being at the point where I can get alcohol whenever I want. I’m still going to be hesitant to order something or step in a liquor store, but I’m sure that will pass quickly.
For those of you who are not yet 21, I hope you have a great time — and I highly recommend documenting the event. That is, if you can remember anything.
This is the berry sangria from Olive Garden. A good choice for an alcoholic beverage. Photo by Lexi Petri.