Wine-tasting and friendship

O.K., so I admit, I just came from a wine-tasting which was totally fun, and with just a few pieces of cheese and crackers has made me totally tipsy. Well, I'm still able to type, so maybe I'm not totally tipsy. This blog entry isn't really about wine-tasting, it's about friendship. This is about my friendship with Bev Conway, and how she signed up for a raffle to win a wine-tasting event at the Wentworth-by-the-Sea and then won it. The only problem was she couldn't go to it because she is teaching a class tonight. So.....she suggested to her husband that he go and take me!

"Hello, Big Red?"
"Hi Garcia."
"You've been nominated."
"For what?"
"To attend a wine-tasting with me."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. Bevy can't go and she suggested you as her surrogate."
"That sounds great. I'm in. When?"

Three days later:
"Hello, Red?"
"Yeah, hi Garcia."
"I just called the Wentworth, to make sure about the dress code. I was afraid I would have to strangle in a tie."
"Yeah, and what did you find out?"
"Business casual. Whatever that is. I don't have to wear a tie."
"O.K. I can do business casual."
"I don't know about this; it seems kind of pretentious."
"Yeah, I agree. Oh well, we can have a good time commenting on all the other people who are there."
"Yeah, maybe we should bring a notebook and write down all our 'bon mots' about the wine."
"I already have my notebook in my purse."
"Bueno. See you at 5:15"

So......having tasted 7 wines, and heard all about the Castello Banfi vinyardfrom a guy who was a total buffoon, and sat there with all the executives from Hannaford Brothers (who sponsored the event) and us and two guys who were in blue jeans, one of whom was wearing a cowboy hat and hadn't shaved for days, we had an absolutely hilarious time. My thanks to Will (alias Garcia) for being willing to go with me, and to Bev, for sharing her husband with me for the night. Two amazing friends. I say gracias, merci and thanks. Or, as they say in Italia, Grazie.