THE US REPORT

By Jennifer Day-Thompson

Our weekly routine can become overwhelming as we try hard to make appointments, meet deadlines and eat three meals a day. Frozen meals at lunch and recipes from Campbell’s soup cans for dinner are our “breaks”, although work is typically the topic of discussion during both. Even the long walk after work is spent restraining two hyper dogs, one of which nearly matches my own weight. This particular pup, of course, was my husband’s choice.

 As hectic as the work week is, the social committee in our condo community in Florida began holding monthly wine tastings the second Monday of each month. At first, I thought of how Mondays are typically spent preparing for the possible inconveniences Tuesday through Friday may bring. The idea of trying to attend a social gathering on a Monday evening seemed laughable. However, this monthly ritual has proven to be quite the opposite, and has also taught us a valuable life lesson.

Hosted by a local wine bar, these wine tastings usually entail four to five different types of wine, all of which come from a common region. A certified sommelier provides a description and history of each pour, and there are snacks such as hummus, cheese and meatballs provided by the bar. We’ve come to expect the same familiar faces each week, and although work may come up in conversation, the discussions tend to focus more on ways to improve the community and other activities that the social committee could plan.

Aside from the convenience of being able to walk back to our house from these tastings, these gatherings are also nice because they remind us that pleasure and relaxation are not just for Saturdays and Sundays. Life just wasn’t meant to be lived that way. Although many of us do not enjoy the luxury of flexible schedules, taking advantage of opportunities to be around people we enjoy, doing things we enjoy doing, are vital to staying happy. As dreaded as Mondays are, the second Monday of each month seems a little more hopeful as we look forward to our quiet evening stroll over to the clubhouse.

So whether it’s a community event or a private gathering of friends, we take time each week to stop and taste life for a little while. As my husband and I listen to our sommelier describe the perfect pairing of an aged cheese with the rich berry flavors of an Australian Merlot, I think of how lucky we are to be together and smiling. With that to chew on, Tuesday just doesn’t seem so bad.