There was a time when all of us were a child.

As we all know, the years flow by quickly, and soon the youngster we were is gone. Or, is that child gone? Let’s explore that a bit…

There was a time when we were young, and all decisions were made for us. Now, we make the decisions that form us and those around us.

There was a time when falling snow was so amazing. It was so interesting to watch those snowflakes float down from the sky — hopefully, without the help of a blizzard wind. Now as we all know, snow can be a pain in one’s derrière, but it’s still fun to try to catch a snowflake on your tongue, isn’t it?

There was a time when the holiday season meant we only received gifts. We didn’t have to think about what to get and for whom. These decisions were left to the adults around us.

There was a time when I had never tasted an alcoholic beverage. What was wine? I kind of knew about beer because of the few bottles of Hamm’s and Grain Belt beer I saw on our farm. Whiskey? A foreign language to me. Now I feel honored to taste the beverages made by so many dedicated and hard working individuals. To enter a winery, a brewery or a distillery and meet the motivating force behind that liquid is awesome.

There was a time when everything was taken care of for us by someone else. We were totally dependent upon our parents or whomever to guide us through any event. In case you haven’t noticed, there was a time when you were younger than you are now. Some of us have many (fortunately) years to look back on and to become astonished how it all happened so “quickly.” That personal river of life flows rapidly. Now is the time to meet and greet everyone and rejoice in that opportunity.

There was a time when I only know people who looked like me. Now, I see the world through the eyes of inclusiveness, and it’s much more enriching and interesting. Through those eyes, we see humanity.

Perhaps that “there was a time” moment means we’ll point to the future and move forward. As the present year winds down, let us never forget those “there was a time” moments. They are the anchor to our future, and many of them were see through eyes of a child.

May you never lose the child within you.

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

Cheers!