Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

In talking to friend of Drink du Nuit, recording artist and suicide prevention spokeswoman Starshell, I learned about the incredible movement and organization she founded called “Birthday Girl: Celebrate Life” in honor of her beloved sister Starchelle [A/k/a “Star”], whose birthday is in December. Each time I hear her speak about her Star,  or talk about the importance of celebrating your life; I can only opine that Star was aptly named because she burned bright and hard during her brief time on this earth. She illuminated the life of those around her and continues to blaze a path of inspiration in her absence. I imagine she was loving and loved. That she was the life of the party, which is why Starshell’s organization promotes celebrating each and every day of your life while you can, and reveling in those precious moments with family and friends.  In thinking on Star’s birthday, I am reminded of how much my own brother, whose birthday is also in December hated sharing his birthday month with the Holiday season when we were growing up.

He would always say it wasn’t fair that after the 4th; July [most of the summer for that matter] was all about me and my birthday behaviors. And I still got presents in his birthday month.  He felt his birthday was only about the Christmas season. Everyone getting love and him missing out on his own special moment. Plus the cold and/or snow made everyone turn down instead of turn up.

Over the years, my brother matured and embraced the fact that he shared his birthday month with Christ.  He now understands that the Holiday season is a birthday turn-up in honor of the birth of Life itself. My brother now gloats  about how Jesus is a “December-born” like him and how Jesus always celebrated life. Somehow being born in December makes him feel special now.

As my brother’s birthday celebrations have gotten more extravagant and outrageous, he always say he is just trying to be like Jesus; and that Jesus has always made an entrance, showed up and showed out, and made the people believe at any event he attended. To which I would agree and think, ” He did attend that wedding where He turned water into wine. There was the buffet He made for the 5000 with five fishes and two loaves of bread. And He did throw that last supper dinner party where, even though He knew His end was near, He gathered and celebrated with all the homies. Jesus even died so that the party called life could continue for the rest of us.”

I rationalized that for my brother, being a “December-born” and sharing his birthday month with the Holiday season now means he has a duty to keep the kind of joy Jesus’s birthday inspires going for the whole of the month. In my brother’s own way, his holy sacrifice is that the month and his birthday isn’t about celebrating just his life, but reminding people to honor, celebrate, and remember all life. I know that’s exactly what the Birthday Girl: Celebrate Life movement is about too.

I guess “December-born” are special people. They are gifted by the earth with natural wonders to keep their party going. The snow is their disco ball reflecting the purity of their spirits. The cold is a natural air conditioner keeping everyone in a tempered and drama free zone. That cocktail of love, faith, and joy we get inside each December; that’s their party punch. That one that subtly hits us with the realization that life isn’t about Presents–but Presence.  That while any December-born is with you; they will give you a little sugar, a little spice, and a whole lot of everything nice.

In honor of all those special people celebrating December birthdays, especially my brother and tonight’s inspiration Starchelle; I present to you, for your imbibing pleasure, a Drink du Nuit that is sure to be your own personal party starter: THE BIRTHDAY BEHAVIOR: SUGAR-SPICE- AND EVERYTHING NICE.

Drink du Nuit: 

Birthday Behavior: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

Ingredients:

1 oz. Watermelon Pucker

½ oz Vodka 

½ oz Malibu Black Rum

1 oz. Lemonade

2 wedges of Lime

Glassware: Shooter Glass

Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a shaker over ice.

Pour into your shooter glasses and serve to your guest.

Place a pinch of sugar on the space between you thumb and pointer finger. Make sure you moisten it before you do.

Next perform the shooter like you would a tequila shot, just in a different order: Sugar-Lime-Shot

Bartender Tip: You can use flavored or spiced sugars to kick this up a notch.

Comment and let us know:

How do you Celebrate Life?

Drink Well! and Remember:

If you or anyone you love might be considering suicide…reach out and get help. You are special and you do matter. There is tons of information on the Birthday Girl website with links to resources and assistance.

If you would like to know more about Birthday Girl and the Celebrate Life Movement,  Please visit www.BirthdayGirlWorld.Com

 

 

Tiny URL for this post:
 Copy