Are all of you still breathing after 2008? Take a bow. Even as weird as these economic times are, people are starting to appear more optimistic. I even had a Xmas party and puttered on my bathroom... hey, this is big news!
So, I've been putting all my old wine corks in a bag to take to my local wine wonk for recycling. This just got me thinking about what else had jolted my tastebuds in an otherwise dismal, depressing year. It's been so hard for me to stay focused on the joys of my life: home, food, friends, music, good wine, books. Not living in Nashville or Austin anymore, I miss the picking sessions with great players like Jerry Douglas, Jimmy Day, Whitey Shafer, Newbury, Billy Graham (no, not that one), John Cowan... but we move on and seek different palettes and colors.
I just finished Robert Camuto's book on the old/new french winemaking scene, Cork Screwed. He revived my memory of farming relationships. Also, I regret not connecting with Patty Griffin when I wore my session player hat in Nashville but I'm glad to have her song-stories in my life. Also, whoa... thank heavens Danny O'Keefe is still around. I had almost forgotten about that beautiful voice till Nancy found him on Napster.
I find that the new years are grounded in the old years and that all of these stories and friends become my sustenance. Our front porch is always open... just give an hour's notice so I can clean the bathroom.
