A lady walked into the elegant bar of a luxury cruise ship just as the sun was beginning to set over the ocean. The room was filled with soft music, quiet laughter, and the gentle clinking of glasses as passengers relaxed after a long day at sea.

She climbed gracefully onto a bar stool, placed her small evening purse on the counter, and smiled at the bartender.

“I’ll have a Scotch,” she said, “with two drops of water.”

The bartender raised an eyebrow for just a second, but he had heard stranger orders before. He poured the Scotch carefully, added exactly two drops of water, and slid the glass toward her.

As she took the drink, the lady smiled and said, “I’m on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday, and it’s today.”

The bartender’s face lit up.

“Well, happy birthday, ma’am,” he said warmly. “Since it’s your special day, I’ll buy you a drink. In fact, this one is on me.”

The woman thanked him, lifted her glass, and slowly enjoyed her Scotch.

A few minutes later, the woman sitting to her right leaned over and said, “That’s wonderful. I would like to buy you a drink, too.”

The old woman smiled politely. “Thank you. Bartender, I want a Scotch with two drops of water.”

“Coming up,” said the bartender.

She finished that drink as well, looking perfectly content. Then the man sitting to her left turned and said, “Ma’am, I’d like to buy you one, too. Eighty is worth celebrating.”

The old woman nodded kindly. “Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with two drops of water.”

“Coming right up,” the bartender said.

As he placed the third drink in front of her, he finally leaned closer and said, “Ma’am, I’m dying of curiosity, why the Scotch with only two drops of water?”

The old woman replies, “Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue.”