Wow. Where to begin? Just when you think things are getting back to the new normal, the national rollercoaster ride starts up again. So joyous it was to awake yesterday to the news from Georgia, and how shameful and frightening to see our public servants left to defend themselves and their right to govern. I resented having to pay attention but felt an obligation to watch the absurd occupation unfold. How is it that I can’t even walk on an airplane with a wine opener, and these dimwitted terrorists were invited into our halls of legislature with pipe bombs?

At the shop yesterday, I was sad and angry, and wanted to better understand what was going on. My colleague, Monique, helped name the feeling: “I have so many questions,” she said. Am I surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Yes. Was that shirtless guy with the furry horned hat the front man for GWAR? No. Do I believe in a special ring of Hell designed specifically for men like Hawley, Cruz and Gaetz? Yes, I do. Or at least it helps to imagine one. It also helps to talk to people about what’s going on, and I feel particularly bereft of the ability to gather together at times like this. I want to be at our local watering hole, processing and ridiculing with friends and strangers, or at a café, sitting with people I love, or behind our own tasting bar, welcoming customers in to sigh, rail, moan, laugh, or just quietly weep, together.

It is hard to be apart right now, relegated to our lonely little circles, but it is helpful to me to continue to acknowledge the direction we are most certainly headed. There will be an extremely smart and compassionate woman of color casting the deciding vote on many of our most important decisions moving forward as a country, and we may be rid of our most hateful and despicable president even sooner than we expected. Until then, turn off the news, pour a glass of wine, and listen to the blessed rain.

Cheers,
Max