Pisces , please forgive me, but I’m going to have to ask you to wait one more week for your cocktail. Last week, I was kept out of my kitchen because I’d tragically set our oven on fire, but this week I have much happier news to share. I have a brand new grandchild and it’s a girl!! My heart is overflowing with so many different emotions: wonder, gratitude, happiness, peacefulness, and sheer, unadulterated joy. And love, of course, so much love. It’s amazing to think that just two days ago we were a family of six and a new little person has arrived to make us seven. The concept of being a grandmom for the first time has been an interesting one for me. My middle son and his absolutely amazing wife live just up the street, so I’ve had the opportunity to be part of their pregnancy on a daily basis. From the moment I found out that they were having a baby I marveled at what a strange feeling it was for me. There was a new little life that was connected to me in a powerful way, yet this time around I was going to experience it through someone else. As time went on, my excitement grew and the reality of it became more and more defined. They had invited me to be in the delivery room with them along with her mom, and my particular job was to help Kerri try to have this baby as naturally as possible. That was something that was very important to her, and I completely respected it. And so we breathed together through seven hours of contractions and had, in her words, some of the most incredibly intense eye contact ever. She then pushed for three hours more after that, all of this happening during the late night and early morning hours when physical exhaustion was a real factor for all of us, but most especially for her. Somehow we made it though and she delivered this baby yesterday morning at 6:55 am. It was the most amazing display of sheer will, fierce determination, and awe-inspiring strength that I’ve ever witnessed, with a few interesting expletives thrown in for good measure. I watched this child be born, which was enough to render me speechless in and of itself, but when I saw that she was a girl I actually felt my knees go weak for a moment. I had secretly hoped it all along for very personal reasons, and I couldn’t believe that I was actually seeing that wish come true. When I held her in my arms for the first time, and she looked up at me with eyes that seemed so ready to know exactly who I was, I realized what everyone had been telling me all along: this was a moment unlike any other in my life. My heart is already so full of love and gratitude, especially recently, and yet I felt it expand just enough to let this little girl inside. Welcome to the world Nora Elizabeth. You’re going to totally rock it. You’ve already turned mine on its head.

Today’s cocktail is a simple mix of Bluecoat gin, St. Germain, a strawberry rhubarb shrub, and lemon juice, with just a quick dash of grenadine thrown in to boost up the pink, of course. And some bubbles on top. Celebrate with me!

Perfect in Pink

2 oz Bluecoat gin
1/4 oz St. Germain
1/2 oz strawberry rhubarb shrub
3/4 oz lemon juice
1 dash grenadine

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake for 20 seconds or so until very cold. Top with something sparkling to celebrate. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a strawberry. Cheers!