A moment of zen. 2014. Summer in Nova Scotia. I went sailing in the open Atlantic for the first time, in a 114 foot two masted ketch. After almost three hours of sailing, we returned to port and I celebrated at a dockside pub with a glass of 16 year old Lagavullin single malt whisky. At sixty five years of age, it registered in my psyche as a life changing moment at a time when I was not expecting any further such moments other than the usual vicissitudes of aging.
Fast forward to last week, when I unexpectedly experienced another such moment. I am going to turn seventy-five in less than one month. Under the best possible outcome I am now in the fourth quarter of the game, but given my family cardiac history, and if I were a betting man, I would more reasonably guess I am lining up for ten to fifteen years left to seek out a few more adventures and chances to do a few more new experiences.
I had opened a low priced bottle of California Chardonnay, having remembered liking whites from way back in our thirties. Since I am a whisky sipper under the watchful eye of my cardiologist, I was thinking it was time to switch to a wine sipping journey to both lower the intake of alcohol and to save a lot more money as well. I paired the Chardonnay with a hot loaf of sourdough bread fresh out of the oven, sliced and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. And tada! I could really make a habit of this. Yes, I declare this to be another life changing moment, in that moving forward from this moment, artisanal bread and wine are going to be a regular part of living well moving into the future. Life is good.
Addendum: Life is not good, obviously, for the Palestinians, nor for the Ukrainians, nor for any of a dozen or more cultural, political, or indigenous groups I could name, nor is life looking good for the health of our planet. Indeed the health of our democracy is at perilous risk in this historical moment. But we must remind ourselves that the gift of being alive is the most precious gift we have. We must love each other, and we must look for goodness where we can, and for joy and wonder wherever they may be found. Have a joyful December everyone.