Wine is a wonderful thing for so many reasons.  It might help a person to relax after a long day. It may enhance the flavors of a wonderful meal. It may release creativity or loosen the tongue a bit.  Enough wine can magnify the personality and the mood of a person, perhaps making conversations a tad more interesting, so I will share at the outset, that this is a bit of a social experiment and yes, I have been partaking in a bit of the “fruit of the vine”.

So, why wine?  Well, because I can’t deal with the smell of beer and it’s too much trouble to make myself a fruity mixed drink, although all the ingredients are here.  There’s too much measuring – why would I want to do math before I have something to drink?  I hate math. Just pouring seems so much more simple.  And thanks to my wine loving friends who take me to wonderful wineries with them, I have a selection to choose from.  Over the years I have learned what I like and don’t like in terms of ingredients and how the wine is aged.  If nothing else, I’ve learned I don’t want my wine to taste like wood.  End of story.

The choice tonight is called “Solace”, an apt name, especially on certain evenings or occasions.  It is only the third day of school, and perhaps I could use some solace?  Nah. Or perhaps I could use some solace after dealing with a person on the phone who was supposed to be helping me activate a bank card, but only asked me what my name was on the card 4-5 times before telling me I would have to call my bank because she couldn’t help me.  All because when my card was re-issued (my other card was compromised on vacation), they left off my middle initial.  Completely blew this girl’s mind.  Ah, but another sip, and “Solace” is taking away some of the irritation that obviously still lingers.

I’m betting there were a lot of writers who were wine drinkers.  I wonder if it really enhanced their writing or not?  I guess we’ll never know.  I’m one that prides herself in always being in control, but how would you know if you’ve had enough wine?  Do I say more or say things differently when I’ve had a couple of glasses?  Is my writing more thoughtful or just more off the wall?  As a person who is very careful with words and who is fearful of speaking, sometimes a little wine can be refreshing and allow what I’m really thinking or feeling to come through.  On the other hand, as a person who is wary of what people think, I still tend to be careful of what I say.  After all what you say can follow you around for a long time.

Drinking wine is sometimes perceived as something people with “culture” do, those with money and “taste”.  I have neither.  However,  I do like wine and and I like learning about it.  But then I like to learn about a lot of things, so why should this be any different?  But the best thing about wine is that sitting around and drinking it can be a great excuse to gather with friends and enjoy each others company or it can be a time to be by yourself and become introspective.  It is also a great way to put yourself to sleep after a long day which is probably where this will lead in the next few minutes.

If the wine were speaking right now, seeing I’ve become a bit introspective, it would speak of how dismal our future seems to be, that we, as a country, are allowing others to do and speak for us and we’re just letting it happen, doing little more than complaining about it or just dealing with it, as though this is just how things are going to be.  It would say that we are doing more finger pointing and complaining about others than looking at ourselves in the mirror and seeing where we can improve ourselves before we try to improve or help others.   It would say that sometimes I get discouraged when I try to find compromise and collaboration in a task or situation and it feels like I’m all by myself in this effort.  Sometimes the wine allows the sadness to take over and I want to give up.

And sometimes the wine builds fortitude.  It helps me gather strength to fight the next fight, gives me the motivation to keep striving for what I believe is best for my country, for my family, for teachers and for students, even when the world seems to have lost all of its common sense.  It give me courage to speak up when I might not otherwise, still careful to remain in control because again, words are powerful and will represent me for a long time.  Or maybe it’s not the wine at all and its just a matter of getting older and needing to speak my mind when I feel really strongly about something.  It’s just easier to blame the wine and easier on the ego than believing I’m just getting older.

The wine is speaking again.  It’s telling me to finish this glass and get ready for school tomorrow before I fall asleep on the chaise….