Remember the Mastercard Priceless advert? $20 for a bottle of Martini. $10 for a bottle of cranberry juice. $35 for a bottle of Applejack. The look on my face when the cashier asked for my ID – Priceless!

“May I see your ID please? Oh, what magic words! To be asked to prove I am of age to buy  alcohol. After all this time. You cannot imagine what that did for my ego. Needless to say, this experience has become one of my favourites. It happened during my recent trip to visit my dear friend, Tanya, in the States.

Tanya and I, wanting a good Martini that evening (I was also under my husband’s instruction to bring some Applejack back to SA) went to the local liquor store (“bottle store” in South African english).  By South African standards, a liquor department store. By American standards, just the local one – lol!

After trawling the aisles for about half an hour, booty in hand we made our way to the cash register (“till” in South African english). Much to our surprise, only mild disconcertion and huge delight, the cashier asked, “May I see your ID please?”

I’d seen this happen in movies with some hapless under-age teenager trying to buy a drink and the bartender asking for his or her ID.  Never thought I’d get asked for it myself.

Apparently any person under the age of 55 or something has to provide proof of ID when buying alcohol. In California.  Very fishy. I asked Google and he wasn’t able to  provide an answer…

I’m not complaining though :-). R15,000 return airfare to California. 24hr travelling time to San Francisco. Spending quality time with Tanya after 11 years, good Martini in the hand and enough laughter to lift the rafters – Priceless!