Before You Blackout February 28th, Don't Skip to Recipe
“Skip to recipe” a little option you can see on many, if not most, of the food blogs out there these days. A quick click of a button and you avoid having to read the often cute or charming story the blogger has written for us and get right to the recipe. No backstory and in many cases, no real way to remember where we got the recipe in the first place. Just the facts as it were, and I get it. We are busy, and we have become so insistent on having the answers (right or wrong) at the tap of our fingertips, we don’t have those pesky minutes to read a story, we are of the Instagram! Show me the pictures, give me the basics and let me move on….to more scrolling and streaming, or whatever it is we are doing with all that extra time we’re saving. Sure doesn’t feel all that connected these days. Maybe it’s from always skipping to the recipe instead of letting a little slice of someone’s story touch us? Don’t know about you but I’m ready for some deep snuggling into something other than my living room or the albatross that is social media these days.
“Is that a bottle of Champagne?” I asked, barely able to contain the grin on my face and the excitement in my voice when a familiar face came to the register the other day. His smile triple the size of mine when he said, “Yup! Seven years now.” His relief and utter elation bouncing off of him in every direction. “Seven years” he said with a nod in my direction. Seven years, it had been seven years ago that he and his wife came in to buy a celebratory bottle of grower Champagne to honor her first “all clear” after her battle fighting Cancer. I have seen him other times in the shop but I knew, that single bottle of Champagne was, well, it was more than a single bottle of Champagne. It has become a tradition, a symbol to that warrior woman, victory, relief, pride, the deep exhale knowing that the year ahead is already a little easier. Well earned and I sheepishly feel honored to be a wine merchant on the wall, watching and beaming with pride for her. Connected.
"It's me, Dylan" a familiar, sweet face, wavy sandy blonde hair but on a much taller body. It took just a few seconds and I saw him little again staring across the counter at me. The shy, uncomfortable little guy that came in once or twice a week with his Dad that loved our beer department. I always tried to engage him, but he didn't respond, and Dad would give me a nod letting me know he appreciated the effort, and sort of letting me know that he was just not quite ready. One day I put a mixed basket of all our leftover Halloween candy on the counter...he looked at it and I encouraged Dad to let him pick something if he liked. He did, little hand hunting and engaged. I know of course it was with the candy and not me, but I felt encouraged. Thus began my "free" candy basket that has now become this very fun, cool exchange with customers.
I started paying attention to what young Dylan responded to. Much more gummies and sours than chocolate, but on occasion some M&M's or something would give him a grin. There was a time he opted to wait in the car, as they do but I started telling Dad to let him know I had new Nerds or Skittles (big no from Dad on those) and pretty soon Dylan was not only back in the store, he was approaching me to say, "hi" or share a short story while I rang up his Dad's purchase.
The basket became a thing I loved doing, even paying for myself, just to see the silly smile and excitement at hunting to see what I had found. Something happened, other kids started too, and then the grownups. All these people so delighted by a little treat. Dylan and I made a thing go.
Just after COVID, the shut down one, Dylan and Dad hung longer at the counter longer than usual. "We wanted to let you know, we're moving, out of state" I was happy for them but I was feeling other things too. I was going to miss, but never forget Dylan....
This holiday season at the shop, " Hi, it's me, Dylan!" And then, "We are visiting for the holidays and he wanted to come here" from Dad. I literally had to contain myself, from either crying or running around to give him a huge hug. He's taller, still checking on our candy and that little guy remembered The Wine Country and wanted to visit. Connected.
I am reminded of a quote from importer Neil Rosenthal when I think about wine, our little family-owned wine shop, the community that has met and become friends here, some even falling in love, getting married and having kids and it all started here. Neil’s quote, “In an increasingly globalized world, wine remains a bastion of somewhereness.” I just like to think of our shop, our shared stories, our quirky comments like my favorites, “Don’t look at the label. Just envision a hot guy, in a really ugly shirt” or “Camille Saves Champagne is like a librarian in fishnets. Sexy as hell, but also so damn smart” those things aren’t in the recipe section, so to truly appreciate and connect, you must hear and feel the stories. The connections that tie us together and keep us learning from and sharing joy with each other. I am reminded of how amazing our customer community is and how lucky I am to be a part of all of that. How lucky all of us at The Wine Country are to be included in those moments. I know I am forever humbled by it and on a day that people are calling for “No Shopping” I just hope that everyone remembers that a small business, like ours, counts on each day of sales, and we are genuinely grateful for each sale, from a candy bar to a bottle of Grand Cru Burgundy. Please keep your small, local businesses in mind on Blackout Friday February 28th, we love being here for you all, and we need your support.
Thank you,
Samantha
Goofy Wine Slinger