You know, sometimes it’s just time…

There are times when you have to test the bounds of tasting. A few years ago I was gifted a bag of coffee beans that had been eliminated from the digestive tract of the Asian palm civet. Yup, passed through, I’m being polite here, the digestive tract. The resulting coffee beans from partially digested coffee cherries were supposed to be very delicious and unique.

People laughed but it was time to taste the coffee and I made a pot of coffee from the beans. The coffee was delicious! Nice full body, nutty tasting and quite pleasant to consume. It was time to let my friends into my coffee circle so they could taste the beans and their comments were along the line of this coffee is good. Who cares how it arrived and preconceived ideas were thrown out the window.

It’s getting a bit hectic out there what with the commotion of the holiday season and people trying to do things when the weather is saying: “Nope, take some time to…” To do what?

Let’s take time to pause. As a family, we made the difficult decision to not gather this month because of the uncertainties out there and our younger children not being to be vaccinated yet. The family really likes to come together during this time of the year, but better to be safe than sorry. We all decided to take time out and just pause — to reflect on our good fortunes, on our being able to communicate via technology and to just help each other and others during this challenging time.

During the upcoming months, take time for yourself. Do what you want to do and know you are doing the right thing. Maybe even enjoy a glass of Italian Pinot Grigio — you decide the brand and savor the time it took to grow, make and be produced for you.

Is it time to remember and to think back on those ghosts of Christmas past and relive the warm and heartfelt memories of family gatherings, presents and celebrations?

Let a favorite beverage take you back to those treasured times. I would open a German Riesling and think back to when my family life began — the crisp taste of a dry Riesling always takes me back in time to when I first tasted such a wine. Take some time to remember your memories of the season and be happy you have them.

Not all of our holiday memories are pleasant but they are who we are and made us the person we are today. Embrace the unpleasant with the good — that’s life.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. When you feel burdened, look for the person who will listen to you — not the one who will tell you what you must do. Take time to relieve yourselves of your frustrations and baggage — it’s okay to do so.

And in the midst of that unloading have a glass of your favorite Chardonnay, your loved Cabernet Sauvignon or whatever wine you like.

And, see what’s around you. During the recent snowstorm, I walked quietly through a park while the snow was cascading down around me. It was quiet and the falling snowflakes appeared above me like little cotton puffs. I stuck out my tongue and caught a number of the flakes on it and noticed the wonder in the whiteness of the snow. When’s the last time you stuck out your tongue and caught a snowflake on it? When did you see snow as an opportunity to make a snowman or have a friendly snowball fight?

See the beauty in wine — look at the different colors of the beverage and think about what they mean. The full dark red to the light yellow white all tell us a story — we just have to take time to see it and learn about it. Ask why a Malbec is such a deep red and why a Chenin Blanc is so elegantly white — you’ll be surprised what you discover if you take the time to ask the question.

My coffee tasting adventure will always be with me as will so many other first time occasions. You have them, too. Take time to reflect upon them and to see them again. They are in you — we just have to take time to see them.

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

Cheers!