Boo Walker's Blog, page 5

A while back, my wife and I were in Hood River, Oregon sitting on the back deck of the Big Horse Brew Pub trying to entertain our little boy, Riggs (he was one at the time), trying to keep him from disturbing the other patrons while we enjoyed a much-needed parents day out. Riggs was in a mood and kept busting through the chair fortress we’d built and was making lots of noise, crying and carrying on. Mikella went to grab him from the other side of the deck, saying to everyone, “I hope he’s not driving y’all crazy.”  

A man stood from the corner and in front of everyone said, “Ma’am, I just got back from a tour in the Middle East, and all I heard for months was gunfire, explosions, and grown men screaming. Your baby crying is the most beautiful sound in the world.”  

Every eye on that deck grew misty. Mikella said it best: “That puts things in perspective. Thank you, sir.”  

Both of my grandfathers fought in World War II—one in the Navy developing radar technology, the other an Army tail-gunner in Italy—and though I wouldn’t dare claim to be half the man those two were, I feel tremendous pride to carry their blood in my veins. It wasn’t until I did extensive research on PTSD for Turn or Burn that I realized the burden a soldier bears.

Thank you, Albert Hamilton Blackmore, US Navy and Lemuel Harrall Walker Sr., US Army for allowing me the freedom to live out my dreams.

Do you know any soldiers? Please mention them below.

Thanks to all you soldiers out there. 

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I have an addiction to self-help books. In fact, I probably need a self-help book about my addiction. Honestly, I don’t see how any of you make it without them, though I’m the first one to admit I’m a little behind on the evolutionary ladder. As long as I have some guidance, I’ve got life under control. As long as I have daily reminders. But if I stop pursuing, if I stop feeding my soul with wisdom, I go limp and dead in the water.

I always be therapizing. I can’t get enough. I can easily take down a Tim Ferriss podcast, a few chapters of the latest bestselling self-help book, a new Ryan Holiday blog, a piece of inspiration my dad sent me, and a Ted Talk before I even eat breakfast. And then I’m going at life fueled (almost annoyingly so). My poor wife. Speaking of, I’m not allowed to say Tim Ferriss’s name anymore in our house—kind of like Voldemort. He whose name we cannot mention. True story.

My modus operandi is one fiction and one self-development book going at all times. As far as fiction, the first lesson I learned as a writer is that the best writers read… a lot.

Apropos self-development, I cover the gamut: spiritual, motivational, religious, business, sales, anything. Anything that gives me the tools to not only face the day but to also walk out that door with some attitude. Some strong attitude. That warrior attitude.

So many of these self-dev books say the same thing. Just in different ways. Maybe that’s why you don’t have to read as many as I do. You got it the first time. But I like getting the same message through different words and ideas, though a different lens. I need constant reminders. Let me see if I can sum all one million of them up:

1) Live to love and serve others – Love, love, love. Love with everything you have. Nothing is more important. When we put ourselves in other shoes, when we can find ways to see their point of view, when we can look at others without judgement, then we’re practicing love (love, of course, is a verb). When we take time to listen, when we can figure out what others want, and maybe even give them what they want, then we’re serving others. Which of course makes our lives better by default; you could call that karma. We live in a new time. Sure, there’s a lot of bad out there. But there’s a lot of good, too. There are people, giant people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, and then legions of lesser known people, too, that are putting the good out there. They are thinking about us. They wake up wondering how they can best serve humankind. 

Zig Zigler, a guy my dad put in front of me early on, preached this idea his whole life. When you’re out there selling, don’t think of what you can get out of it. Think of how you can help the people you’re going to call on. With every choice we make, we should put others first. Seth Godin and the new guard of sales/marketing guys base their entire living on the concept of serving others. Even in my writing, I need to be thinking of you. How is a particular scene going to impact you? How is what I’m writing at this moment going to help you?

2) Be present. My wife introduced me to The Power of Now, and I consider my life broken into two stages. The days before I read this book, and the days after. What time is it? Don’t look at your wrist. The time is right now. We should not spend the majority of our existence thinking about the future and past. We should train our left brain to calm down, so we can be here. Right now. RIGHT NOW.

We must enjoy the moment. We must tame the left brain that tries so hard to bury the magic of life. As Ghandi says, “Live each day as if it is your last.” And we have to agree with whoever it was that said, “Life is what happens when you’re making plans.” Holy crap, what if we spend our whole life focused on making sure we don’t run out of money when we’re eighty? Focused on making sure we’re padding that 401k, making sure that we don’t lose our health insurance, making sure we don’t…. Oh, yeah, I could go on forever. I’ve talked about my hyperactive left brain before in this piece on how Yoga saves me. The bottom line: When you’re on your death bed, what will you regret? I think it’s how much time you spent worrying, how much time you weren’t in the present moment, how much time you wasted.

3) Use your mind to conquer and get what you want. That gets the Pscycho-Cybernetics, You Are the Placebo, The Secret, The Master Key System idea out of the way. I’d say this concept works when you’re able to find the perfect balance between the left and right brain, that perfect dance they can do. I read The Secret last week. Yeah, I know… I’m really late to the party. All in one, The Secret is tremendously cheesy and also life-changing. I knew the idea, the law of attraction, from other great books, but it was a great reminder. Seriously, if you look past the whole “close your eyes and imagine any car you want and you get it” cheeziness, there is such tremendous power in the law of attraction. And yes, that power can probably get you any car you want. For me, I have more important things on my mind than cars. (But I’m not a car guy.) The point, with The Secret and so many similar books, is that you made/make your life. Whether you can accept it or not—indeed a hard pill to swallow—whether you love or hate your current position, you did it. And if you don’t like it, you can change it. 

I am supremely confident that if you can see something in the future, if you can figure out what you want, visualize it, and come to believe it, then you can get it. There is quantum physics involved. The universe is listening. It’s alive with electricity and energy. Your own religion or beliefs might explain it differently, but there’s a common thread know matter your system. 

Do you know someone who doesn’t trust others? Who is constantly worried people are out to get them? That the world is a dark place full of thieves, liars, and pickpockets? I’ve encountered a few. And you know what? The world is after them. You know why? They made it so. Talk to any plastic surgeon. It’s common for someone to find success in all aspects of their life after a particular surgical augmentation. Do you think having a different shaped nose is what got them their new job, their new attitude, their new life? No, it’s mindset. The power of the mind is staggering.

Don’t think for a moment that I presume to be a master of this stuff. That’s why I #AlwaysBeTherapizing. Because I need it! That’s probably why I write… to give my characters life and then to crush them with all these challenges, to see how they handle them. That way I get more practice. As they rise above them (or not), then I become just a little bit wiser myself.

What am I missing? Please comment below.

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No one has done it yet. Not really. No one has laid down the law on the true definition of natural wine. Even dipping into the conversation for a moment at the dinner table amongst the trade can cause an episode climaxing in broken bottles and blood.

Some have tried defining natural wines with a particular sulfur level, say 0, 35, or 99 total parts per million maximum. Some might or might not include organic or Biodynamic wines. Some would say anything that is orange, sparkles, and tastes like absolute $%^* would qualify.

While there are certainly examples of winemakers clueless as to what they’re doing—blindly bottling a sparkling orange concoction reeking of volatile acidity, aldehyde, pediococcus, and brettanomyces; wine thick with unidentified floating sediment, the guy or gal making such statements (while scratching their head) as, “No idea why it’s bubbling!”—there also exists true winemakers bottling a savage, flaw-laden (flaw in the traditional terms of winemaking) wine with great passion and clear intention.

There is room for both!

Sarah Hedges Goedhart, who makes Demeter-certified Biodynamic wines (arguably, natural wines) on Red Mountain, makes a beautiful point: “Natural winemaking shouldn’t be lazy winemaking and ‘flaws’ should exist due to the complexities of the yeast, bacteria, and other compounds not being suppressed by the winemakers arsenal of additives. However, flaws that exist due to inattention and laziness should not be considered an okay part of natural wine.”

Perhaps we can make the argument that natural wine lives in two different families. One, we will liken as natural terroir wine. In other words, though the wine is natural, it is clean (mostly) of traditional flaws and therefore carries with it a sense of place and time. Much like the Hedges family’s top wine, La Haute Cuvée. After all, that sense of place and time is what those in the traditional wine trade value above all else.

That’s why this second type of natural wine—let’s call it natural crafted wine—is so controversial. You might hear people say, “Any moron can make that.” Crafted natural wine is crafted more like a beer. The crafter/winemaker is more important than the wine. Certain, if not all, flaws are acceptable in this style, even though these compounds hide the terroir. 

Think about your friend, the beer geek. He probably likes a sour pumpkin beer heavy in brettanomyces with a name like Hopasaurus Quadruple IPA. Do you think the growing region of the hops stands out? It’s okay to like such a beer in the beer world. Sense of place is not held as high. That’s the lens from which we need to see natural crafted wine.

As touched on above, we must further separate natural crafted wine into two camps: those who know what they’re doing, and those who don’t. The context of these natural crafted wines is essential to their enjoyment. We must know whether the wine was done with purpose by a person knowledgeable in the ways of science and passionate in what they are putting into the world.

Polarizing winemaker Chad Stock of Oregon comes to mind. He, in our eyes, is an artist of the highest order. Should you go on a journey of the wines he’s bottled, you’ll find precise and flawless pinot noir—made so clean as if to prove his prowess in the traditional world; but you’ll also find wines that defy what is acceptable in the eyes of many. Under his Minimus line, his labels read such controversial statements as: I HAVE V.A. (on another label, I HAVE BRETT). I AM OK WITH THAT. I AM ENLIGHTENED. One could not argue these wines lack intention; the flaws in these bottles are not a mistake. And his flawless pinot noir, in a sense, allows him the freedom to explore and push these boundaries. As is true in most fields, you must learn the rules before you break them. But you’re only at your best when you start breaking them. Where do his wines fit in this spectrum?

In his own words, “Minimus is constantly evolving and its construct is designed to explore everything possible in Oregon, with a low intervention core philosophy. The low intervention aspect is set in place to allow the wines to show for what they are, so that they can be properly judged and evaluated by my peers. For example, how will anyone know whether growing some grape variety in my region is successful based on excellent acid structure when I am just adding it from a bag… but then telling everyone it is the terroir of my vineyard that creates the natural acid so that I can preserve my proprietary winemaking trickery?” Preach it, Chad.

To take this idea to the art world, abstract expressionism often illicits this “any moron could do this” response. But take a moment to look at some of Jackson Pollack’s lesser known paintings. And study what he was up to. There was talent, brilliance, deep thought, and insurmountable passion going into these works.

What if you taste a wine that doesn’t fit into your preconceived notions of a what traditional wine should be? What if not only the sense of place is buried but even the varietal essence is missing? What if the Chardonnay you’re drinking doesn’t taste like anything resembling Chardonnay? Does it mean this is one of those “awful natural wines?” To add to this idea, Chad says, “What does it mean if it reminds you of nothing you’ve ever tried, and you like it?”

Or perhaps the context reveals the art. Perhaps we need to understand the intent. Perhaps we need to understand who is behind this wine. Perhaps the who matters more than the where. Or the approach, that hands-off, minimalist style, is the art. Perhaps we need to taste these wines like an alien might shortly after first landing on earth. Chad says, “Intent is everything when it comes to justifying the individual methods of iconic producers. I can’t tell you how many MW and MS professionals enjoy my wines because the wines disarm them and reinvigorate their senses, revealing wine from a new perspective.”

It’s worth taking a brief look at two recent experiences in Europe. If you attend London’s Raw Fair put on by Raw Wine, you’re going to find wines that go to each extreme, though the majority lean toward a clean, precise, terroir-driven style worthy of high acclaim by such British wine writers as Steven Spurrier and Jamie Goode. There may be flaws but nothing that would get in the way of its traditional mission.

But! If you find a tiny and extraordinary natural wine bar called Den Vandrette along the water in Copenhagen, you might dash out after your first sip. You might taste an oxidized Chenin Blanc that bares no resemblance to any other Chenin on earth. The flaws are endless. Not one top sommelier could guess the varietal or origin in a blind tasting. Unless you arrive to this place with an open mind, you will be disappointed. Here’s the thing: the owners put serious thought into the curation of the wines in their cellar. They carry both natural crafted wine and natural terroir wine, ALL of which are made by winemakers and vignerons that only bottle and send out into the world wines that they believe in and love. Wines as crucial to the winemaker’s existence as their own children.

Again from Chad, “Natural wine isn’t about just the wine; it’s a generational and cultural movement that could be likened to political or musical shifts that are so powerful they alter society itself.”

Do you have room in your heart for both styles? Do you believe in UFOs?

[Thanks to Christophe Hedges and Chad Stock for their contributions to this piece.]

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No one has done it yet. Not really. No one has laid down the law on the true definition of natural wine. Even dipping into the conversation for a moment at the dinner table amongst the trade can cause an episode climaxing in broken bottles and blood.

Some have tried defining natural wines with a particular sulfur level, say 0, 35, or 99 total parts per million maximum. Some might or might not include organic or Biodynamic wines. Some would say anything that is orange, sparkles, and tastes like absolute $%^* would qualify.

While there are certainly examples of winemakers clueless as to what they’re doing—blindly bottling a sparkling orange concoction reeking of volatile acidity, aldehyde, pediococcus, and brettanomyces; wine thick with unidentified floating sediment, the guy or gal making such statements (while scratching their head) as, “No idea why it’s bubbling!”—there also exists true winemakers bottling a savage, flaw-laden (flaw in the traditional terms of winemaking) wine with great passion and clear intention.

There is room for both!

Sarah Hedges Goedhart, who makes Demeter-certified Biodynamic wines (arguably, natural wines) on Red Mountain, makes a beautiful point: “Natural winemaking shouldn’t be lazy winemaking and ‘flaws’ should exist due to the complexities of the yeast, bacteria, and other compounds not being suppressed by the winemakers arsenal of additives. However, flaws that exist due to inattention and laziness should not be considered an okay part of natural wine.”

Perhaps we can make the argument that natural wine lives in two different families. One, we will liken as natural terroir wine. In other words, though the wine is natural, it is clean (mostly) of traditional flaws and therefore carries with it a sense of place and time. Much like the Hedges family’s top wine, La Haute Cuvée. After all, that sense of place and time is what those in the traditional wine trade value above all else.

That’s why this second type of natural wine—let’s call it natural crafted wine—is so controversial. You might hear people say, “Any moron can make that.” Crafted natural wine is crafted more like a beer. The crafter/winemaker is more important than the wine. Certain, if not all, flaws are acceptable in this style, even though these compounds hide the terroir. 

Think about your friend, the beer geek. He probably likes a sour pumpkin beer heavy in brettanomyces with a name like Hopasaurus Quadruple IPA. Do you think the growing region of the hops stands out? It’s okay to like such a beer in the beer world. Sense of place is not held as high. That’s the lens from which we need to see natural crafted wine.

As touched on above, we must further separate natural crafted wine into two camps: those who know what they’re doing, and those who don’t. The context of these natural crafted wines is essential to their enjoyment. We must know whether the wine was done with purpose by a person knowledgeable in the ways of science and passionate in what they are putting into the world.

Polarizing winemaker Chad Stock of Oregon comes to mind. He, in our eyes, is an artist of the highest order. Should you go on a journey of the wines he’s bottled, you’ll find precise and flawless pinot noir—made so clean as if to prove his prowess in the traditional world; but you’ll also find wines that defy what is acceptable in the eyes of many. Under his Minimus line, his labels read such controversial statements as: I HAVE VA (on another label, I HAVE BRETT). I AM OK WITH THAT. I AM ENLIGHTENED. One could not argue these wines lack intention; the flaws in these bottles are not a mistake. And his flawless pinot noir, in a sense, allows him the freedom to explore and push these boundaries. As is true in most fields, you must learn the rules before you break them. But you’re only at your best when you start breaking them. Where do his wines fit in this spectrum?

In his own words, “Minimus is constantly evolving and its construct is designed to explore everything possible in Oregon, with a low intervention core philosophy. The low intervention aspect is set in place to allow the wines to show for what they are, so that they can be properly judged and evaluated by my peers. For example, how will anyone know whether growing some grape variety in my region is successful based on excellent acid structure when I am just adding it from a bag… but then telling everyone it is the terroir of my vineyard that creates the natural acid so that I can preserve my proprietary winemaking trickery?” Preach it, Chad.

To take this idea to the art world, abstract expressionism often illicits this “any moron could do this” response. But take a moment to look at some of Jackson Pollack’s lesser known paintings. And study what he was up to. There was talent, brilliance, deep thought, and insurmountable passion going into these works.

What if you taste a wine that doesn’t fit into your preconceived notions of a what traditional wine should be? What if not only the sense of place is buried but even the varietal essence is missing? What if the Chardonnay you’re drinking doesn’t taste like anything resembling Chardonnay? Does it mean this is one of those “awful natural wines?” To add to this idea, Chad says, “What does it mean if it reminds you of nothing you’ve ever tried, and you like it?”

Or perhaps the context reveals the art. Perhaps we need to understand the intent. Perhaps we need to understand who is behind this wine. Perhaps the who matters more than the where. Or the approach, that hands-off, minimalist style, is the art. Perhaps we need to taste these wines like an alien might shortly after first landing on earth. Chad says, “Intent is everything when it comes to justifying the individual methods of iconic producers. I can’t tell you how many MW and MS professionals enjoy my wines because the wines disarm them and reinvigorate their senses, revealing wine from a new perspective.”

It’s worth taking a brief look at two recent experiences in Europe. If you attend London’s Raw Fair put on by Raw Wine, you’re going to find wines that go to each extreme, though the majority lean toward a clean, precise, terroir-driven style worthy of high acclaim by such British wine writers as Steven Spurrier and Jamie Goode. There may be flaws but nothing that would get in the way of its traditional mission.

But! If you find a tiny and extraordinary natural wine bar called Den Vandrette along the water in Copenhagen, you might dash out after your first sip. You might taste an oxidized Chenin Blanc that bares no resemblance to any other Chenin on earth. The flaws are endless. Not one top sommelier could guess the varietal or origin in a blind tasting. Unless you arrive to this place with an open mind, you will be disappointed. Here’s the thing: the owners put serious thought into the curation of the wines in their cellar. They carry both natural crafted wine and natural terroir wine, ALL of which are made by winemakers and vignerons that only bottle and send out into the world wines that they believe in and love. Wines as crucial to the winemaker’s existence as their own children.

Again from Chad, “Natural wine isn’t about just the wine; it’s a generational and cultural movement that could be likened to political or musical shifts that are so powerful they alter society itself.”

Do you have room in your heart for both styles? Do you believe in UFOs?

[Thanks to Christophe Hedges and Chad Stock for their contributions to this piece.]

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A friend from my Charleston days contacted me recently. He’s not only a friend. A mentor, really. He’s the guy I run my big questions by. Even if we haven’t spoken in a year, I’ll reach out, and he’ll selflessly jump into the rollercoaster of my life. His advice is always spot on. Just one of those wise-beyond-his-years kind of people that gets it.

He reached out via text to tell me he was happy to see my latest book, Red Mountain, with such positive reviews on Amazon.

I replied: Now, I have to make the next one just as good!

And he texted back:

No. You need to make the next one better.

What incredible advice. Not only did it scare the heck out of me; the idea rang a bell deep inside.

You need to make the next one better. He’s right. That goes for everything in my life! Maybe yours, too. The next hour, the next day. The next interaction. The next attempt.

Thank you, Travis Howell. As I wrap up Red Mountain Rising, your words are heavy on my mind.

Anybody else have some wisdom worth sharing? My characters (and me) need all the help we can get!

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A friend from my Charleston days contacted me recently. He’s not only a friend. A mentor, really. He’s the guy I run my big questions by. Even if we haven’t spoken in a year, I’ll reach out, and he’ll selflessly jump into the rollercoaster of my life. His advice is always spot on. Just one of those wise-beyond-his-years kind of people that gets it.

He reached out via text to tell me he was happy to see my latest book, Red Mountain, with such positive reviews on Amazon.

I replied: Now, I have to make the next one just as good!

And he texted back:

No. You need to make the next one better.

What incredible advice. Not only did it scare the heck out of me; the idea rang a bell deep inside.

You need to make the next one better. He’s right. That goes for everything in my life! Maybe yours, too. The next hour, the next day. The next interaction. The next attempt.

Thank you, Travis Howell. As I wrap up Red Mountain Rising, your words are heavy on my mind.

Anybody else have some wisdom worth sharing? My characters (and me) need all the help we can get!

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I’m currently taking a course from master marketer, Seth Godin, and one of the assignments was to answer the question:

What would you change about your product if you were to charge 10x as much?

And once you have the answer to that question, his advice is: “Do that.”

In other words, if you can imagine a way to make what you do more valuable to the people you do it for, then by all means, do it. Super cool concept I’ve thought about a lot. But hold on, I’m not going where you think I am.

Today, as I bounce around terminals at JFK, this question (mashed together with a tough story I heard from a friend yesterday) led me into deeper thinking about life in general. And a new question came to mind:

What would you do if you found out the rest of your life was going to be SHORTENED by 10x?

Once you find the answer, I have a feeling I know what Seth would say:

“Do that.”

And here’s the tougher question:

What’s keeping you from doing that?

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After years of working behind the table at wine festivals around the world, you notice some things. So here’s your insider’s guide to behaving like a pro. Please don’t get all worked up and defensive over the language… it’s all in good fun. And let’s face it, if you’re feeling offended, it’s just because you’re one of the worst offenders!

– Don’t tether your wine glass to your neck

– Don’t pinch your fingers and say, “Just a little.” Dump it if you don’t want to finish it, but I’m going to pour as much as I damn well please

– Don’t violently lift your glass mid-pour and say, “That’s plenty.” Same deal as above.

– Don’t say, “Give me the biggest thing you have.” This isn’t NASCAR.

– Let “smooth” take the day off from your vocabulary… the whole day

– Don’t shove. I mean… really

– Don’t say you hate Merlot. We all saw Sideways. Guess what: Miles didn’t want to drink Merlot because it reminded him of his ex-wife. That bottle he drank in the end—his most precious bottle—had a ton of Merlot in it.

– Don’t tell every winemaker about the winery that was down the street while you lived in Lodi

– Don’t ask how the wine scored… ever.

– Do wear a “Wine’er, Dine’er, 69’er T-shirt

– If you are going to use one of those little food trays that has a cutout for your glass, you better be damn sure you are cool enough. Note: no one we’ve met so far is that cool

– Over-buff late thirties guy: Don’t try to impress your date by contradicting me. You’re going to fail. Yeah, try me

– Don’t lick your glass… just, ewwww.

– Don’t talk about your sulfite allergy. There is a good chance you have no idea what you’re talking about

– Don’t dump into the water pitcher. And always look before you drink out of it

– Practice spitting at home; it will come in handy

– Don’t talk about the legs after you swirl the glass. Here’s a tip: the legs don’t matter.

– Don’t take your heels off and puke in the lobby

– Don’t ask for the “most expensive” or “my favorite” wine on the table

– Keep the rim of your glass food free

– If you proclaim that you don’t like white or rosé, we will make fun of you when you walk away

– NO Perfume! And go light on the lipstick, honey. Those marks are hard to get off the rim

– Asking for a wine donation at the table for your charity will result in instant death by saber

– Don’t say: “Um, this is actually good.” Because the person before you just said it. And the person after you is going to say it, too!

boo

p.s. Thanks to Christophe Hedges of Hedges Family Estate for his contributions.

 

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What’s the best book you’ve ever read? When did you realize it? One page in or halfway through? And honestly, with so many out there, can you really have just one?

Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow found me in November, and I knew I’d be forever changed as a writer and reader after only a few pages. Actually, there was a more grand design that led me to this book. Or as my friend, Leila, called it, a God-wink.

My in-laws met a writer named Leila Meacham on a river cruise in Washington State a few years ago. Leila is more than a big deal in the publishing world. And when my wife went to have lunch on the boat as it passed near Red Mountain, she met Leila. They exchanged some words and then Leila retired to her room. But a few minutes later, she returned. She told my wife, “Something told me to come back and talk to you about your husband. I have a feeling he needs me.” As my biggest fan, my wife had of course told Leila that I was a writer, as well. (That’s the first God-wink in this story.)

Their next conversation led to exchanging numbers, and I was soon on the phone with Leila, absorbing advice and criticism worth its weight in gold. Leila was an English teacher all her life, and only started writing after she retired. Her book, Roses, hit the big time and soon she was running around with the A-listers.

Over the past few years, she’s been my guide. She has pushed me since day one to chase mastery in my craft. She’s taught me to analyze every word, every sentence. To study plot and structure. To edit and edit and edit again. We email often, and how she uses words even in short form is a master class. And she’s recommended a few books over the years that she thought did it right.

A Gentleman in Moscow was one of them. But I only picked it up after booking a trip in November to Russia. I’m that geek that likes to read a book set where I’m vacationing. I read Wine and War in Burgundy, and I read Druids in Ireland.

I booked my hotel for Moscow before I had decided to read this book. Before I knew what it was about. The day after booking, I was scrolling through my Kindle, trying to decide what to read on the plane, and I saw A Gentlemen. I thought, perhaps, it’s time. I got on Amazon to read the summary, and that’s where I found my next God-wink. The story is about Count Rostov who, during the early part of last century, is sentenced to spend the rest of his life within the confounds of the Hotel Metropole in Moscow. Guess what… I had booked the Hotel Metropole the day before!

You’re damn right I sat with my legs crossed in the lobby of the Hotel Metropole and drank my coffee and read this book every morning, thinking of Count Alexander Rostov sitting next to me. If only it had been one-hundred years earlier. If only he was real!

On to the book. Read it. Just read it. If you and I have anything in common, you’ll find it so refreshing and brilliant and intellectual. It actually took me longer than usual to finish, because I’d read particular sentences or paragraphs or thoughts and have to set my Kindle down for a moment. The way Amor Towles thinks is pure genius. Take the character and the story out of it, which are both addicting. His choices in how he describes the Count’s world are mind-boggling.

He writes, “Surely, the span of time between the placing of an order and the arrival of appetizers is one of the most perilous in all human interaction.” How well said. I read that line over and over and still talk about it.

Here’s my favorite. A captain visiting the hotel is sitting at the same bar as the Count. He notices the Count swirling his snifter and moves a stool closer. The captain says, “You seem like something is weighing on your mind. I mean, you set that brandy in motion about half an hour ago. If you’re not careful, the vortex you’ve created will drill a hole right through the floor and we’ll all end up in the basement.” I finished that line and had to go for a walk. The writer in me wanted to retire my pen, but the reader in me was so profoundly touched. This is why I read. This is why I write. You can see in absolute clarity the Count at that bar, swirling his glass, wrestling with a heavy thought.

And, oh, the character. Had I the option, Count Rostov is the fictional character I’d choose to dine with. Never has their been a more refined and proper gentleman. He says, “For what matters in life is not whether we receive a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim.”

It’s hard to claim a favorite book. Each day we pick new favorites in all things. But for now… I can claim with certainty that A Gentlemen in Moscow is the best book I’ve ever read.

Have you read it? What are your thoughts? Or… what’s your favorite book? Leave a reply below.

 

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Konnichiwa from Osaka! Every time I come to Asia, I find myself once again curious about the surgical masks. We all might know the obvious reasons, but the last one I’ll mention is what fascinates me the most.

At first glance, many other cultures might assume someone wearing a mask doesn’t want to get sick. That’s true. We saw a lot of masks especially during SARS and the bird flu.

What I find profoundly awesome about the Asian culture is that a grand majority of those wearing masks don’t want to get you sick. They’re worried they’re contagious and could pass it along. How many times are we under the weather but still shake someone’s hand? Perhaps we don’t want to go through the uncomfortable process of holding our hands close to our chest and explaining that we’re sick. “I’m sick, keep your distance.” What an unbelievably honorable and beautiful gesture to wear a mask.

Masks are also worn to protect against radiation and pollution, especially during particular times of the year when the winds blow in a certain direction. Judging by the giant gaps I’ve see in between facial skin and the masks, I’m not convinced of the efficacy.

There are many more reasons, but what fascinates me is that many wear the masks to hide. It’s like wearing headphones. Have you ever walked the streets of New York City and been hit by tons of people trying to get your attention, sell you something or convert your faith? Do you ever get annoyed by the Delta people in airports trying to get you to sign up for their American Express card? Wearing headphones allows you to move on by unscathed.

The mask does the same thing. Many wear masks and headphones. You might be a woman that doesn’t feel like getting approached. You might feel insecure today and wearing the mask gives you a chance to hide from the outside world. You might be embracing your introverted self. If any of you have ridden the Metro in Tokyo, you understand the sardine-like situation. A mask can give you some space.

We all feel like hiding sometimes. And some do it in style. It’s hip to add some color or design to your masks as I’ve seen the past couple of days.

Am I missing anything? Let me know below.

Until next time, y’all have a good day. I’ve got to go find a mask.

boo

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