“MARGARITA DAY” EXPLAINED . . .

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My buddy DiscConnected posted a comment on my blog bit titled “Margarita Day – 2011”. As the whole world knows, every New Year’s Day I post something on both of my blogs about what I call “Margarita Day” and I always include the Margarita Day slogan, “A Tradition Since 1986 (Except For 1994)”.

DiscConnected had a couple of questions about this great national holiday and I answered those questions in the comment section. But I’m thinking that it’s “high” time I publicly revealed the origin of Margarita Day and the history behind that famous day’s slogan.

So, below is a reposting of DiscConnected’s comment and my response which will finally clear up the mystery and the myths surrounding this worldwide day of celebration.

DiscDude wrote:

What happened in 1994?
Were ya on the waggin?

Do Jack Daniels shots count?

Happy New Year, STMc!

The world did not end again....

Stephen T. McCarthy (that would be me) responded:

DISCDUDE ~
What happened in 1994?
Ha! It's kinda humorous because, believe it or not... well...

It was actually my Dad who started the Margarita Day tradition on January 1st in 1986. He was out and about doing things and at one point he decided to stop in at a local bar to watch one of the college football games and have a drink.

Now, Margaritas definitely were not my Pa's usual drink of choice; he was generally a beer or bourbon man. And I can't recall WHY he decided to have a Margarita that day but I think he saw someone else in the bar drinking one and on a whim it looked appealing to him. So in a very unusual moment, my Dad ordered a Margarita. In fact, I think it may have been the first Margarita he ever had. And he said the thing tasted so good and went down so nicely that he ordered a second one. And a third, and...

Well, as these things tend to happen, one drink led to another, and so on and such and such, and then suddenly in one moment it occurred to him that he was crocked! So, he called me and asked if I could come down there and pick him up because he didn't think he should be driving.

And that's how the Margarita Day tradition was born. From then on, he and I would go out every single New Year's Day and have a Margarita or two together. He passed away in 1996, but I keep the tradition alive, and intend to continue it until the day that I too pass away.

So, what happened in 1994?
Ha!-Ha! It's hard to believe but, after 8 years of having Margaritas on every New Year's Day, somehow or other we just plain FORGOT to do it in 1994. It didn't occur to either one of us that we were supposed to go out and get a Margarita. It wasn't until the next day, January 2nd, 1994, that it dawned on me that we'd neglected the tradition. I went to him and said, "Oh, my gosh, Pa! You know what we forgot to do yesterday?"
"What?" he asked. And I reminded him.
"Well, I'll be dogged!" he said. "How did that not happen?"

But we picked up where we'd left off in '95 and again in '96. And then on April 10th of 1996, at 66 years young, God called my Pa Home (the lucky guy!)

Looking back on it now, I'm kind of glad that he and I forgot to get a Margarita in '94 because it gave birth to my slogan "A tradition since 1986 (except for 1994)", which I think is really funny! When did you ever hear an advertising boast like that?

Nah, I'm afraid Jack Daniels shots don't count. You see why it must be a Margarita, right? However, "virgin" Margaritas DO count - I've gone that route a few times when the idea of a full octane Margarita didn't appeal to me.

And HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, too, McBuddy!

I think that, for me, the theme of 2011 might turn out to be "Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes".

~ Stephen

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