She ordered white wine, and I ordered Schweppes tonic water without the booze. The drinks came, and I took a hit.The first thing she said was, “I don’t know how you can drink that stuff straight?”“You mean without the liquor to kill the taste?”“Yeah, it’s so bitter.”“That’s what I like about it. It’s bitter like me. We match.”“You mean you’re a grumpy old man?”“Right. Can’t help it. That’s what happens when you get old.”“Well, I’m an optimist.”“I’m an optimist too, just a grumpy optimist.
Robert Hobkirk, Blind Date: Ten Short Stories
blind-date, quote