Beaver Fever

I just realized that last June was 30 years!  That's how long it's been since I've drank straight water.  Any health nut who tells you that drinking plain water is required for survival or good health is full of butt nuggets.  The hydration I've gotten from soda pop, coffee, juice, gin, and chocolate milk has kept me alive and perfectly healthy for over 3 decades...so far.  Why don't I drink plain water?  Imagine drinking something, let's say excessive tequila, that made you sick as hell and utterly miserable.  It's not unreasonable that it would turn you off from drinking tequila forever.  For me, it was water, drank directly from a shallow well, that just happened to be contaminated with giardia.  Giardia, or "beaver fever" as it was called in the olden days, is NOT fun.  Now, as suggestively naughty as beaver fever may sound, it's not a playful romp through the Vegas strip clubs.  It's a parasite that makes your guts feel like they are exploding.  Ok, maybe it is like one or two titty bars.  Regardless, giardia is pure misery and once was enough to turn me off from plain water.  I ain't taking the chance again.  Y'all drink your healthy water and I'll stick with my Pepsi, bourbon, or water that's been "purified" with coffee, tea, or Tang.  Yes, it's psychological, illogical, and downright silly.  The chance of giardia exposure nowadays is less than getting hit by lightning.  But it's my mental baggage and I'm sticking with it.