Message in a bottle

(i)

Every time I open a new bottle of whisky
whatever the weather
I go outside
and
holding the bottle aloft
pour out the first dram
into the welcoming earth below

“For the ancestors!”

Dad used to scoff at this alcoholic ceremony of mine
“That’s a waste of good whisky, Stevie boy,” he’d say

Nowadays I sometimes pour him an extra, gratuitous glug
just to make a point

“Bet you appreciate it now, dad!”

But I was never convinced the dead can hear us
let alone answer back

(ii)

On the tenth anniversary of mum’s death
I went down to the sea for
a memorial ponder
and found myself saying out loud
“Mum, if you can hear me, then send me a sign”

I wasn’t sure if you’re allowed to ask such things
and I sure wasn’t expecting anything fancy

A few minutes later I spied a bottle washed up on the shore
half full of liquid amber

I just shook my head
and smiled out loud
at how funny and mysterious Life can sometimes be
and
having held the bottle aloft to the evening sky
and having poured a generous and grateful dram
into the pebbled beach below
I plonked myself upon a rock
and watched both the sun
and the seaborne bottle
sink down
and down
and
down

Quite how she coordinated that one, I couldn’t even guess

but I meandered home
in sea-whisky-fuelled wonder
feeling well and truly blessed