Reaction to this morning’s story, “New Policy”…
It’s obvious, with roots in my own life, from years ago working at the insurance office, and me wishing self closer to home, near Mom and Dad, laboring in the insurance office with an agent who yes did teach me a bit about selling I guess but always loved to flex. That he was an agent, licensed, with his own client list and office, that he was he and I was me. At the time I didn’t have any wish to make wine, but in writing the character Jack, named after my son most obviously, I now want my own bottles. My own label, labels, to do pouring out of state.
And the title, also teaching me something after a re-read…. My policy, of not settling, not doing something just to do it. Not having any more jobs but a catapulting of passion and working from that propulsion.. me and wine. Everything has to be vino, oeno-. Wine, forever, with this story… creative in wine’s wheel, MY policy. And above anything, even wine and writing and writing about wine, making wine… to be HAPPY. That is everything. Talking to Mom and Dad recently about life and the composition of one’s life, all that brings and demands, happiness is the apexing apex in priority.
The character Jack to me holds a cliff of innocence but as well determination, and a bit of ire. Ambition has to pull in a slight venom, I feel. And when you’ve dealt with something for so long, eventually you just say, “No.” Saying no to that desk, to the office, to the character he sees everyday. Rick’s and his own, in that office, at that chair, with all the insurance policies and clerical obligations and specifics I wish I had more time to write, but I only wanted this piece to be about 500 or so words. Not too long.
Funny, as I write this reaction in a quasi-cubicle, at a winery, and I couldn’t imagine again being trapped in something like this, with no life around me, no view. Certainly no wine. Wine forwards in defiance, in separation from occupational normality. That’s the purpose of this story, really… separation. From doesn’t make you happy, from what keeps you from what you want. Wine is the liberation, the leader in autonomous act. Wine, realizing what I have to do with my winemaking aims, wine writing aims… here in the character of Jack, and what I wish for my son. I want my son to work, of course, but if I can I want to provide him opportunities so he doesn’t have to deal with people like Rick, whose real name was Roger. The short story allows for teaching and sharing of ideas like this, about the workplace, as decisions to leave are usually made in an instant. Sometimes it’s not premeditated, or designed. You just tell them, “I’m leaving.” The office can be a spirit-polluter. And, the only way to be cleansed is to wholly depart. And wine, all the magical facets and specifics in her configuration and metaphysical and physical makeup, abet.
Hermetic Glass
Later in day, I’m more into my new reality, less than 365 days till 40. This is a joke, right? I’m going to wake before wife does for her little bootcamp or mommy workout cult, or body fit.. form… whatever it’s called. Today in the tasting room, taking shipping to base across the street then later counting inventory, not at all my favorite thing to do, has me in a mood. Not so much a mood but how I’m going to get to where I want to be. The same as these winemakers having their dreams of starting their own beat.
Some Cabernet from tasting room, a ’15, home with me and making me think more of wine and life and the possibility of touching what’s only to some a vision, some delusion, something to which they’d say, “Maybe you want to aim for something more realistic.” Too lazy and cranky to get up and sip more of her, so I sit here and … just sit. Be bitter. An old man. 39. Then I say, “Remember what the DMV guy said.” True. The wine industry, testing me… and quite boldly. With no apology. I accept. And more motion from me such begets.
Ready for another glass… and to meditate a bit in current thought bluster and climate. Hear the wind outside and it reminds me of the fires then I think fuck it I don’t want to think about that so I force myself to stop, and ready for next pour. Getting messages from friend at work, whose last day is tomorrow. Not sure how I’ll manage without him, but I will I just have to get into a more fighter sense of a writer turn. It’s my turn, to advance in career and in my writing, books and general reality. Day’s close, and this writer’s mind opens to stars…
Two weeks till 39,
tomorrow last of Spring ’18, and this glass of the St. Francis OVZ, my last. Tom Wolfe died today, and again I’m reminded.. curt, life is a trash compactor wall. So I sip and scribble and meditate over day at winery, where I wondered how many times I can wipe down a counter, how many times I can walk out to the vineyard, saying to self I should taste the Pinot Gris a couple more verses till it says something that actually says something to me.
This Zinfandel isn’t with my sitting, not here on this floor and with me and these keys. Wishing self back to car, on my drive down to Anaheim in the harshest of A.M. dark time, morning, after getting coffee and letting thoughts trample me going across the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. I don’t care about my age, not massively nor with minuscule sole. I onward step and type and look to the light right above my head near a non-moving fan, hearing the fridge growl at me from left knowing the time is tempered and taught to squared legs.
Break in Row
Something I’ve wanted to start for a while… Here’s the first piece.
In writing, you
exude the most You you can produce.
Right where you are.
Reiterate your reality with beatific bravado and placement. If others question or object, use their words for your pages.
We, as writers, win, always, either way.
Un rêve?
Being on the Road, writing about le vin. Soon, my present. I want to see wine in all its facets and forms, voices and songs. Everywhere. Chase it, to extend my story and appreciate life with more wholeness and worldliness. Journaling all wined sights, and sights as a result of the wined jaunts around la planète.
Maybe it is a dream, but not for much longer. I’ll be everywhere, writing everywhere, in old castles and buildings, villages and huts, on the lives there, not so much and often the wine. I’ll be there with bottles, writing about them, but the intent is predicated on Human Beings, lives, the thought, learning from the act of travel and intersecting with characters I would have otherwise not met.
No more dreaming.
(3/25/18)
Why do you care
so much about wine?
Really… the writer wants to know.
