Tomorrow is our 30th anniversary. As you might expect, no blog update tomorrow! But before we turn 30 as a married couple it seemed appropriate to post an update.
D’Aun and I have had a great time here in the Napa Valley. It’s the perfect place to reflect on what we’ve tried to create in our marriage: peace, trust, rest, honesty … la dolce vita, as the Italians say. Grape growers talk about finding harmony and balance in the grape; D’Aun and I talk about the same thing in our relationship. Corny? Well, maybe. But still true.
D’Aun and I have worked hard to maintain a healthy relationship these past 30-years, and that’s reflected in our interaction with others. Many of the things we’ve done this week in Napa have come through relationships.
For instance, I met Chuck Wagner (owner of Caymus) on a flight to Hawaii, and we hit it off because of our interest in family business. He hosted us at the Caymus Winery for an hour of tasting and we had a great time. Chuck showed us the barrel room, poured some great wines, and toasted our thirtieth. He even gave us an incredible signed magnum of their 2009 Special Selection! Thanks, Chuck! The whole experience was truly a model of what it means to love building relationships. Which comes as no surprise from a family owned and operated business.
Jason showing us the caves at Cliff Lede.
Or consider our visit to Cliff Lede Vineyards. A couple of years ago D’Aun met Jason Moulton at an olive oil conference. Today Jason is the cellar master at Cliff Lede, and he was gracious enough to show us their incredible facility. This is the former S. Anderson winery, which D’Aun and I loved back in the first decade of our marriage. So it was fun to see the place today, hear about Jason’s work, and continue to build our relationship with him. Thanks, Jason!
D'Aun inspecting the grapes at Chappellet.
Even our visit to Chappellet was based on relationship. It began at the Taylor Family Foundation fundraising event last month. Chappellet was one of the wineries represented, and I told them they were pouring the best wine at the event. A conversation started. Long story short they gave us a free tour and tasting coupon if we visited the winery. So up the hill we went to see this famous vineyard and setting. And the tour was wonderful; lots of time in the vineyard, not just in the tasting room. Great fun, and it came about because we took the time to build a relationship.
The list goes on. Our time in Napa Valley has been influenced by dozens of relationships, from tips about burgers (thanks Anne!) to ideas about where to stay. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve driven past something and said, “Oh, ___ said we should go there because it’s great!”
That’s life. It’s how we’re put together. We live in the midst of community and our lives are enriched by that community.
Marriage is the same way. Who I am today is different than who I was when I first met D’Aun. Not only because I’m older and wiser, but because D’Aun has taught me so much. She’d say the same about herself; we’ve been a good influence on each other!
And that is what we celebrate tomorrow. Thanks to all of our friends, family, coworkers … everybody we’ve known and interacted with over the years. We celebrate our anniversary tomorrow, but we remember all of those relationships in the midst of that celebration.