December 31st, 2011
The Village
I love Dave’s hometown. We walked around the village yesterday, down to the dock. It was sunny and 50 degrees (in New York. In late December.) Fabulous.
October 15th, 2011
A Perfect Saturday in October
Every girls needs a hero. Someone in a metaphorical cape to rescue her from some precarious situation.
I found mine a few weeks ago when I was sitting perched on a forklift, stalled out and staring at a large macro bin of grapes that somehow needed to get from our cold room at work to our crush pad for our grape stomp event.
I sat on the forklift for a good five minutes staring at my phone, debating on whether or not to call him for help. I have never been good at the damsel in distress thing. I’m stubbornly independent that way. But I had a sneaky suspicion he would come to my rescue. On one hand, I didn’t want to bother him on what would inevitably be one of the last Saturdays he would have free before harvest.
On the other hand, he has a great smile and talking to him always made me feel wonderful.
I called. He came. He saved my event and my sanity in the process.
After the people had cleared off the crush pad, following rave reviews of how much fun they’d had, he and I cleaned up the gigantic mess of stomped Cabernet Franc that had been created.
He hooked up the cellar stereo, put his iPod on shuffle and we raked pumice from the half barrels that had been used for stomping to the sounds of Foster the People. He watched me on the forklift again, patiently instructing as I dumped macro bins of pumice into the large dumpster on the edge on the property (I got the forklift right this time) and 3 hours later it was clean.
I thanked him profusely for his help, telling him there was no way I would have been able to tackle this on my own. I made small talk for the sole purpose of not letting the conversation end, asking questions to which I already knew the answer, hoping he couldn’t pick up the apprehension in my voice as I tried to work up the nerve to ask him for a beer. Coming to my rescue again, he threw out the suggestion of heading to the Brewing Company, sending a rush of relief and excitement through me. My nervousness turned into a huge smile as I agreed immediately, grateful to continue spending time with him.
Walking the vineyard
Almost another 3 hours went by, as we laughed and talked, over food and blonde ale. He had dinner plans he couldn’t get out of that night but asked if I wanted to get a post-dinner drink. I said yes and grinned like an idiot all the way home, and I waited for him to call.
We went out again that night and have been together ever since.
It’s wonderful. I have seemingly floated through the last month.
Scoping out pumpkins for possible Halloween carving purposes
Last Saturday, we both got done with work, wanted to enjoy the little bit of the sunshine that the day had left so we walked the vineyards in south Napa. We stopped at the pumpkin patch to look around, take a few photos and enjoy each others’ company.
It was a perfect Saturday in October.
August 19th, 2011
A Grateful Nation
As my mom dropped me off curbside at Sac airport today, I spotted a wife sending her serviceman husband off. He was clearly heading to duty, as he had one of those green duffel bags soldiers always carry and he was clad in camo.
I saw them embrace, the wife having to stand on her tippy toes to reach her arms around his neck, even as he bent down to hug her goodbye.
I was probably a good 40 yards away, and as I finally reached them, pulling my suitcase behind me, I had to swallow a lump that appeared in my throat, as they were still tightly hugging one another.
Maybe I have been watching too many of those Coming Home shows, but those scenes, whether on tv or experienced in real life, always get me.
Yes, I even tear up at the Budweiser commercial where the soldier comes home to a dark house, only to find his friends and family waiting for him in a nearby barn to welcome him home.
Thanks a lot Budweiser marketing, way to ruin perfectly good eye makeup, btw.
Anyway, I happened to find myself on the same flight as this particular soldier and he was standing behind me on the jet way, waiting to board.
I turned around to him, extended my hand, and thanked him for his service. I told him there are a lot of people here at home who have a lot of respect for what he is doing for his country and it isn’t going unnoticed or unappreciated.
He smiled humbly, and simply said ‘you’re welcome.’
He asked where I was headed, and I told him. He said he was going to North Carolina but would ultimately be in Afghanistan before long.
I don’t know anything else about the soldier, but after seeing how tightly he and his wife hugged and for how long, I thought about how difficult that separation would be, not to mention the mere thought that he is risking his life. I think it may be the ultimate selfless act, to put your life on the line to defend the freedoms of people you don’t even know.
The least I could do was thank him for it.
June 19th, 2011
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who play that important role in the lives of their kids…
Especially to my own dad for all of his guidance and love…here’s hoping you hit it long and down the middle on the course today.
March 20th, 2011
Some days are better than others
Neither of the days this weekend were those days. Blech.