One never knows what one will hear on a daily walk.

I was in the midst of my daily walk and passed an acquaintance on the street. We waved across the way to each other, yelled to each other about what a nice day it was and then, it was said…

“It’s only going to get better!” she yelled to me.

Was the statement about the weather or about our prevailing national shelter at home situation? We didn’t clarify but it seemed appropriate for both subjects. Yes, the weather will get warmer and, hopefully, we’ll soon return to some semblance of normalcy in the near future. And, yes, we’ll get through this together if we watch out for each other.

It’s only going to get better. I wonder how many times I’ve heard that phrase during my passage through time? It would have been entirely appropriate for my freshman year of English at Augustana College when the professor kindly gave me a grade of C-. Of course, one mustn’t forget Navy boot camp. Or the feeling of not knowing what to do after a parent’s demise. Or, or, or….

Are you reliving some moments in time when you felt it’s only going to get better? Maybe the real question should be — how did we make the moment better?

Perhaps we need to rely on our instincts because that’s where so much of our being is located. For instance, I enjoy a daily cocktail. It’s usually a standard Manhattan, Rob Roy or a Negroni but I like to mix things up a bit to see if it’s going to get better.

In searching through my stash of cocktail books, I found a Brandy Madeira recipe. It called for equal amounts of brandy, Madeira and a bit of dry vermouth. My Madeira was non-existent but I have a bottle of Marsala — a fortified wine is a fortified wine, right? It wouldn’t hurt to try it so…

Mixing equal amounts of brandy and Marsala with half the equal amount of dry vermouth produced my Brandy Marsala. It was good! E&J XO Brandy taste floated about with the sweeter Marsala taste and both were supported by the dryness of Gallo Extra Dry Vermouth. It can’t possibly get better!

Our local beverage producers — craft breweries, wineries and distilleries — need help today. Like all small businesses they are feeling the effects of the virus situation and they all need our continued long distance support.

Brau Brothers Brewing would appreciate us continuing to purchase their offerings — go for their 3Trees IPA — a nice citrus tasting and aromatic ale.

Painted Prairie Vineyard is working overtime to bring their products to people in a safe way. Support them by buying a bottle of their wine — maybe a bottle of their hearty Marquette?

How about a bottle of Over-Draft Tart Red Ale from Bank Brewing in Hendricks? You want tartness and beauty? Here it is, in a bottle just waiting for you. Be bold enough to try it!

There are so many local businesses that need our support — from agriculturally based businesses to zoological parks around the area. We can each help them in someway and I urge us to do that.

While on that subject of helping others, let’s not forget to buy goodies even if they are made across the world from us. Some wine examples:

From Italy, Cavazza Pinot Grigio is mildly tasting — think melons — and crisp to the finish. It pairs perfectly with a pork dish or a nice bullhead dinner. Remember the good old bullhead? I caught a lot of them and soon realized it could get better than a bullhead.

Or maybe you wish a decent tasting Chardonnay. Well, Lindeman’s Bin 65 Chardonnay is easy to purchase, gently refreshing and is satisfying at the end of a long day.

Like a red wine with a fancy French name? Well, try a Chilean wine from Emiliana Organic Vineyards titled Natura Carmenere. It’s very French but the Chileans have found a way to bring this good wine to South America and have been successful. The taste will remind you of dark chocolate with spicy toffee. Lovely to view, smell and taste.

What’s all this got to do with thinking it can only get better? Maybe it has to do with some upbeat news and it will bring some betterness into our lives today. Whatever and wherever you find your good news today, embrace it and pass it on to others.

Working together, it’s only going to get better!

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!