QMusings

Laverne was on a mission. Her mission was to get Ms. Q to drink beer.

Ms. Q is not a beer drinker.

Beer is OK. I just like wine more. At four-foot-ten-and-three-quarter-inches I have to be choosy about what alcoholic beverage to imbibe. For example, I like cognac. I like Madeira. I like Scotch. Neat.

It was Shirley’s birthday and we were all at the V&A Waterfront.

Shirley and I are Ponderers. We Ponder. We Ruminate. We Consider.

Laverne is a Doer. She Does Stuff. Shirley and me? We think about doing stuff.

My trip to Cape Town was the start of my Doing Stuff. I wanted to redefine my idea of risk.

Shirley was sharing similar feelings. We both were ready to try new things. We were ready to get out of our comfort zones.

The three of us arrived at the Waterfront ready for a Huey Ride. We had reservations. We go to the shop-front at the pier and we’re told that all flights have been canceled due to a Police Investigation. This was weird. This was the 2nd time one of our well-thought out plans fell through. I wasn’t disappointed. For me, seeing Laverne and Shirley was all I cared about, everything else, cherry-on-top. I also feel that if one thing doesn’t work out, something BETTER comes along.

Something did. We went on an hour-long speedboat ride around Table Bay and Yeeeee-hawww what a blast! None of us had ever done that. This was also Risky Thing #2 for Shirley (she was setting them up and knocking them down) who doesn’t like the water. I don’t like activities where I may end up wet, cold, or on my butt, but I decided to go for the speedboat ride, too. I even yelled “Yeeeee-haaawww!” when the driver hit some particularly large waves and we went airborne.

We stepped off that boat with salt-encrusted sunglasses and a bit of a wobble. Laverne wanted to celebrate with a beer at Den Anker.

Den Anker has an in your face nautical them. The place wasn’t crowded; it was too early for the dinner set. We decide to sit at one of the high tables near the bar, tucked against a bank of windows. I hoist myself up onto the tall stool.

Laverne tells me that Den Anker is the place for beer. Belgian beer. Food … ‘Sokay. Beer, much better. I look around, plenty of beer bottles around the large island bar.

Laverne is practically wiggling in her seat, ready for her Kwak. The beer is served in a special glass that requires a holder and drinkers have to give a shoe deposit. Shoes are kept in a large basket at the bar and when you return the glass, you get your shoe back.

I dunno about a beer. Laverne is looking at the extensive beer menu.

I look at my beer menu. I have no freakin’ idea. I think I like dark beers, what with my limited sips with brew-loving friends. Other than that, blank.

Laverne looks at me. She can tell that I am thinking about wine. The late afternoon sun is streaming in, gilding the table.

“You must try one!” she tells me. She looks very happy. So does Shirley. We’re all together and we just tried something new and it was exhilarating.

“You’re right. I’ll have a beer!” I tell her. “You order for me.”

Laverne goes back to the menu.

The waiter comes to our table. Shirley decides on a Duvel, Laverne orders her Kwak and what does she order for me?

“She’ll have a triple.”

The waiter leaves.

“What did you get me? A triple of what?” I ask, thinking the beer might be like espresso and I was getting triple strength or triple shots.

“No, not triple, I ordered you a Westmalle Tripel!”

That was helpful.

Our beer arrives, each with its own matching glass. Laverne is delighted to see her special Kwak glass. Shirley’s beer glass resembles a modified brandy snifter.

My Tripel is placed before me. A sea of beer. An ocean of golden fermentation.

Uhhhh.

It’s in a very tall, very sturdy stemmed glass.

Laverne looks at me. “Well?”

I hoist it up and take a sip.

“We need pretzels.”

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