Transitions, Constants, and Wine

Every day seems to go by faster than the last. In hindsight, I always like to take inventory of what stays and what goes — friends, locations, feelings, interests, disinterests, things of the sort. I like to reflect on these transitions and analyze what has triggered each catalyst of change.

This year my biggest change was space. I signed a lease and committed to a new home. Not only a new space but my own space. I was so excited! After years of sharing my space with someone or many someones, I was ready to truly experience living alone. Except no one told me that moving alone was a challenge within itself… A challenge that required a bottle of wine sometimes!

For the first couple of weeks, I was sleeping on my air-mattress. Day by day, I was recording the spaces of my new domicile, getting a feel of my latest quarters while gently plotting what kind of interior I saw myself living in. And day by day, as I sorted through my things, I finally had a chance to “see” everything I owned and assign it a value. “Haven’t used,” “Won’t ever use again,” “Throw away,” “Give it a wash,” “That’s where that was,” and “Donate!!” — have all been keywords I used to navigate my items. Amongst my items, were my beloved books that are like souvenirs of who I was as a person at that time. Scary novels, Italian 101, zines, informative wine books, philosophy concepts, rugby superstar catalogs, Chinese poetry, you name it and I’ve probably read it! I ran my fingers through pages of forgotten memories, read random passages, and was instantly hit with a wave of nostalgia.. The last book I picked up was “The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry: From Early Times to the 13th Century,” collected and translated by Burton Watson. I opened the book in half, skimmed through a few pages, and found this poem:

This poem is named "Better Come Drink Wine With Me." Poems, like wine, are subjective and may have many interpretations but to me, this poem shows how wine can serve as a kind celebration after overcoming small or even large defeats. It struck me as ironic as it was written before the 13th century and is still relatable. I found myself doing the same — every piece of heavy, moved furniture, every mis-purchased return, and the few pieces of lost glassware were all celebrated with friends who helped me move – and, of course, a bottle of wine. That is what I like to consider a constant. For hundreds of years, and on a completely different side of the globe, wine symbolizes accomplishment and brings people together. It serves as a signal of completion, achievements, and unity — a constant throughout the centuries and all around the world.

 

After helping me move and pick up many pieces of furniture, I gifted my friends a bottle of Centaure

$32
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And once everything was more together, when the girls came over for brunch, we celebrated with Chasselas for brunch!

$28
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Of course, over the years, I have filtered through some of my old books, but the ones at hand were mostly my “constants” — things that I love and are relevant to me, no matter how long ago and regardless of the other changing variables in my life. A ten-year student of Mandarin, my affection for wine, and playing on a rugby pitch are all things I’ll love no matter the transits in my life. My constants have been my passions and interests, which have led me to new people, new locations, and new experiences! And as I keep transitioning through new phases in my life, I’m sure to take my love for wine with me.

Signing off,
Rosemary