Take It to the Lily

The Husband and I went out for date night tonight. A friend of ours performs in a band, which was making an appearance at a bar nearby. So, that's where we went.

As we ordered our drinks, it occurred to me that Lily's birthday is coming up this week. Ever since she passed away, I have always wanted to drink a toast to her with a Mai Tai, her favorite drink, which I had never tried. So, that's what I ordered. Unfortunately,  the bartender didn't know how to make one and couldn't be bothered to look it up. I settled for a Malibu and pineapple instead, my favorite drink, which is similar to a Mai Tai anyway.

The band set up outdoors. The weather was perfect. The crowd was small. It was absolutely lovely.

I was very much enjoying my not-quite-a-Mai-Tai when the band started to play the Eagles song "Take It to the Limit".

Back when Lily and I shared a bedroom, we often listened to the radio in the dark. One night, Lily rolled the tuner endlessly looking for a song she liked. From my side of the room I'd hear static, then a bit of a song, static, then another bit of a song. 

"Ugh! Just pick one!"

After a while, Lily pointed out that the same song kept popping up. She'd scan, find that song, scan, find that song again. Over and over. I don't know how many times she went up and down the dial, but it was amazing how many stations were playing the same song at the same time. Just amazing!

Maybe you figured it out right away, but it took me decades to realize she had been dialing away and back to the same station each time. 

Yup. She was a trickster, and I was a dufus.

That song was "Take It to the Limit", and every time I've heard it ever since, I've been taken back to that amazing night in the dark.

So, here I was today with a drink I had ordered to honor my sister listening to a song that reminded me of her. I smiled to myself, lifted the glass, and silently wished her a happy birthday.