On New Year's Day, a couple of friends and I went on a short winter romp through some hiking trails. It's a lovely tradition that started last year, and I hope it continues for many years to come. There's a certain magic to the beginning of a new year - in a way it's like the birth of a new companion. Taking a walk in the winterness of January 1st feels like an introduction to this new friend that has entered into my life. Time will tell exactly how this year's personality will unfold and reveal itself, but it only seems proper to officially introduce myself in this way.
January is also a month rife with resolutions and hopes for change. Unlike many, I really love resolutions and I think New Year's Day is the perfect time to start them. A song I've heard recently feels fitting with its talk of mistakes and the yearning to grow. In this newly born year, if you haven't made any resolutions of your own yet, grab a pen and paper, a dram of something spicy, and listen to Bleachers' I wanna get better:
Soon after the hike, I had an impromptu meeting with a friend of mine I don't often get to see. I didn't know which lads would be at the bar she suggested, but I was confident I'd find someone enjoyable to talk to. Turns out I was right.
We headed over to The Shebeen, which has been a favorite of mine since I moved to town. They had a few Scotches on the shelf, and I quickly spotted the lad I wanted to have.
The lovely bartender, Simone - graciously agreed to allow me to take her picture, even though I didn't have a good camera with me. She poured me a dram of the lovely local whisky - made from Scottish barley brewed overseas, but then aged and finished here in Virginia.
Virginia Distillery's Highland whisky is one that I've met and chatted with on several occasions. Since our first surprise meeting at the Blues Festival, I was really impressed by this lad. I've been meaning to find some quality time with him to really get know the deeper aspects of his personality.
His nose immediately struck me with caramel, sweetness, and a hint of
burnt sage. I sighed into the glass - regretting that it had taken so
long to discover these things about him. The first sips revealed much of
what I remembered - he was smooth, warm, and gentle. I was thrilled at
how this night was beginning. Continuing the exchange with VA
Highland, I turned to my friend and we started to catch up. We reminisced about last January when we met up to do much of the same - chat with the lads and catch up on each others' lives. We were both so hopeful, at the beginning of 2017, for what the year would bring. This time, talking about the differences between now and then, I named what felt distinctly different to me: in hindsight, last year's drive for change came from a much more desperate place. This year the drive is pure determination.
Change can come from desperation or determination, but with determination, your odds are better.
We toasted to good things ahead and decided to order dinner. I was excited to eat one of my absolute favorite dishes in town - the Sadza Cakes. These lovely corn polenta steaks are served with sautéed spinach, snow peas, sundried tomatoes, a delicious buttery lemongrass sauce, and the whole thing is topped with parmesan shavings. Disappointment is never part of the experience.
I turned back to the Highland to see how he paired with the magnificent medley of flavors, and he did just fine. As I sipped along, I found more elements of his own personality revealed. There were notes of cinnamon, ash, and smoke. His nose opened to sweet banana. There was a flatness to the finish which I noticed, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment because the flavor stayed firm otherwise. At the very end I noticed bitter and a bit of lemon. He was much more complex than I expected.
My friend and I talked more while we ate and enjoyed our beverages. We realized that in many ways our situations had improved in the last year, and that was encouraging. It was lovely to find time to reconnect with both my friend and the VA Highland, but the hour grew late, and we all had to head our separate ways.
Whatever the reasons or motivations, deciding to strive towards growth and improvement is usually a good idea. Resolutions are a great way to do this, but the most important thing to remember is that you need to show up. For friends, for life, or for the newborn year - you have to show up to meet them and see what they might have in store. The rest you can figure out along the way.
