Happy Midsummer

There are two public holidays that are extremely hyped in Sweden - New year's Eve and Midsummer Eve. The later sort of symbolizes the very essence of Sweden - or so they say. I'm not really sure about that. If drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages and being an complete ass, maybe it does.

Yup, it's pathetic, but for some reason many, too many, Swedes consider the ultimate sign of a good party, the best way to socialize being, not great company of friends and family, not savoury food, not ambiance, but the amount of alcohol being gulped down. Tragic is the word that comes to mind.

Tragic that life's own splendor isn't enough to get high on. Or perhaps, that life's consider to be too much to handle so one feel the urge to becloud it with alcoholic haze. I also nurture the suspicion that it might have something to do with peer pressure and low self esteem...

Think of everything one miss out on when drinking oneself into oblivion, of everything stupid thing one might do while intoxicated, of every hazard one put oneself up to, every day one miss out on due to hangovers... Myself, I find life to be too short for that.

A drink, a cider now and then, perhaps a liquer with the coffee, that's fine and dandy, fun and tasty - other than that I just don't get it. Neither the taste nor the implication of it.

And no, I'm not too keen on having to pay taxes to the health care- and judicial system for all the damages caused by excessive drinking. All the ramifications of one drink, or two, or three or more...

It's a complex - or not - issue, and no it's most certainly not as simple as everyone for one's own. Ponder over that the next time you absolutely, definately, positively "need" alcohol to have a party... Why not work on your self esteem instead. And try and enjoy life and all its glory - which most certainly won't be found on the bottom of a wine bottle - in its very own. It's actually possible, believe it or not.

Happy Midsummer!

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