When Tuesday Comes to Call

I love talking with our members.

I have learned so much from them and although I feel like they want to hear about wine from me, I most like hearing about wine from them…

I smile at the texts from any hour radiating with joy over the bottle they snapped over to me. I relish the calls where we talk about anything and everything as we catch up and make sure the wine (and life) is treating them the way Double Bond should.

And a few days ago, I had a call that I’ll remember forever.

I called a sweet, bubbly member who I imagine to be part energizer bunny and part chaos coordinator. We talked of weddings and Lake Tahoe and dyer repairs and crossed a few fingers for her [someday, possibly, excitingly maybe soon] grandchildren. When through the stream of conversation, she said in intrigue:

“I have to tell you a story.”

I sat and listened and knew this was a story that simply must be told.

So without further ado and with her permission; I have to tell you a story.

It was 30 years ago, back in the bygone days when tourists could still bring wine on airplanes. On a picturesque trip to France the member and her husband picked up a particular bottle of Champagne; their mother’s favorite. A hand-selected bottle from Old Country that travelled 5,000 miles and presented as a matriarchal gift.

25 years later, on a random day, they found that same exact bottle buried in the back of their mother’s refrigerator untouched.

Sometimes the rediscovery of a relic invites reminiscence on golden memories of old, it beckons a subconscious smile and a heart skipping levity… and other times it summons the sour ache of regret; of what could have been if only a different choice has been- a choice, in hindsight, that seems so blaringly obvious.

The once effervescing crystalline bottle was browned with age and shot with neglect; the gentle slope crusted in a dust that wouldn’t wipe off.

“I never had a good enough occasion to open it.” Their mother explained.

Later that night, this member looked at her husband and they made a vow… to drink nice wines on Tuesdays. Because Tuesday, ordinary Tuesday, is a reason to celebrate and so that a glorious bottle of wine is never missed waiting in perpetuity for the right moment.

After all, every day is a gift and sometimes uncorking a treasure is all it takes to remind you.

So, if you have that bottle, that special one you’ve been waiting for a ‘good excuse’ to open, I’m here to share some wisdom with you… it’s a good day to open that bottle.

It’s Tuesday. It’s reason to celebrate.

And you never know the favorite memories it might create.