One year more, one year less

One of the great disadvantages of getting older, is the time it takes to recover from an excess of alcohol. I am having great trouble in stopping my head rolling off my shoulders and smashing into tiny pieces. Fragile only starts to describe my current condition on account of trying to drink a winery dry last night.

My long suffering wife managed to keep my 55th birthday party a secret, both from me and our son, who, had he been party to the planning, would have let me know within minutes of him being sworn to silence.

We all arrived at the winery on the pretence of me being asked for advice on the festival set up arrangements for the weekend. I have organized the folk festival for the last two years, but this year I am taking a break. So, it didn’t dawn on me that all was not as it seemed until we pulled into the car park. I can be oblivious sometimes (OK, a lot of the time) so even when I saw all the very familiar and much loved faces thronging round a beautifully arranged table piled high with wonderful North West fare (courtesy of our beautiful friend Victoria) , it took my mind a few minutes to realize what was going on.

The winery is set in an old growth apple orchard and is one of my favorite spots on the Island, so I had a blast. Char grilled Alaskan salmon, spot shrimp on skewers, sushi and raw spiced Tuna, along with barbequed pineapple and bell peppers, washed down with copious amounts of wine from Vashon Winery and Palouse Winery and the soon to be established Forbes Winery (our own). Even on the new regime, there was nothing I couldn’t eat, and not a nut or seed in sight.

I got to play with my favorite musicians and friends, the lovely Kat Eggleston and Julie Mainstone, and generally had what could only be described as a lovely evening.

In a few hours, I’ll be feeling good enough to feel bad, and may have to lie down in a dark corner and hibernate for a while.

Alternatively, I might just have to go out and do it all over again.