The There There Letter: Bicycling, Beasts, and Beaujolais
Three things from DAH.
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Bicycling …
It's something I'm not doing and feel I should. There was a time, long ago now, when I bicycled everywhere. Then I moved into the country, and only a bit of recreational mountain biking made sense. It was too far to everywhere for bicycling to be practical. So, I fell, out of the bicycling habit. Then yesterday morning I was suddenly thinking about Ed "Foxy Grandpa" Delano. I don't know why, and I only knew of him. It's my brother who actually knew him. Foxy retired to Davis, California (bicycle capital of the world) and took up a hobby that took over his life. Ed Delano is remembered today for what he did after he retired. I'm yielded two life lessons:
1. Bicycling might be a good thing.
2. Second chapters might be a good thing.
Foxy's History
Second up this week, Beasts …
We live with three dogs. If you know me, you likely know that because they dominate home life. Particularly during the current pandemic, I'm with three dogs almost all the time. All three (Jacque, Tinker, Lucy) are dozing near me now. I grew up with cats at home. As an adult, I've shared my home with dogs and cats. Currently, dogs are the only beasts living alongside us. My three dogs don't shed (poodle parentage). That turns out to be something we really appreciate. My wife refers to the three dogs as "our little time wasters." They are often annoying and expensive. And I love them. And I'll be bereft when without any one of our beastly housemates. I miss every beast that's ever been with me.
25 reasons dogs are the best pets on Earth
Third up this week, Beaujolais …
Travel 200 miles south-east from Paris and you may find Dijon, at the northern end of the Burgundy wine region. Wend your way south towards Lyon through Burgundy (land of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and you'll end up in Beaujolais (land of Gamay). That sounds good to me (I'll take a pass on the Nouveau, however). One once could find California wines labeled Gamay Beaujolais. That's no longer legal (because they were really Pinot Noir, mostly). One once could find California wines labeled Napa Gamay. That's no longer legal (because they were really Valdiguié, mostly). Red Beaujolais is made from the Gamay Noir grape variety, and I really like it. I would be delighted to travel from Paris through Dijon, stopping on my way towards Lyon to enjoy a bunch of Beaujolais. So many delicious and gulpable wines. So many that are still affordable. I dream of assembling a tasting of the 10 Beaujolais Crus (prestige regions within Beaujolais). Perhaps when we can once again revel with enough friends to warrant opening 10 bottles at once.
The Insider's Guide to Beaujolais
And a bit more. I end with a taste of Mary Oliver poetry each week. For this week here's an entire poem before the tasty end.
Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night
By Mary Oliver (from Dog Songs)
He puts his cheek against mine
and makes small, expressive sounds.
And when I’m awake, or awake enough
he turns upside down, his four paws
in the air
and his eyes dark and fervent.
"Tell me you love me," he says.
"Tell me again."
Could there be a sweeter arrangement? Over and over
he gets to ask.
I get to tell.
And that’s all for this week.
From Mary Oliver’s poem Sometimes …
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Bicycling …
It's something I'm not doing and feel I should. There was a time, long ago now, when I bicycled everywhere. Then I moved into the country, and only a bit of recreational mountain biking made sense. It was too far to everywhere for bicycling to be practical. So, I fell, out of the bicycling habit. Then yesterday morning I was suddenly thinking about Ed "Foxy Grandpa" Delano. I don't know why, and I only knew of him. It's my brother who actually knew him. Foxy retired to Davis, California (bicycle capital of the world) and took up a hobby that took over his life. Ed Delano is remembered today for what he did after he retired. I'm yielded two life lessons:
1. Bicycling might be a good thing.
2. Second chapters might be a good thing.
Foxy's History
Second up this week, Beasts …
We live with three dogs. If you know me, you likely know that because they dominate home life. Particularly during the current pandemic, I'm with three dogs almost all the time. All three (Jacque, Tinker, Lucy) are dozing near me now. I grew up with cats at home. As an adult, I've shared my home with dogs and cats. Currently, dogs are the only beasts living alongside us. My three dogs don't shed (poodle parentage). That turns out to be something we really appreciate. My wife refers to the three dogs as "our little time wasters." They are often annoying and expensive. And I love them. And I'll be bereft when without any one of our beastly housemates. I miss every beast that's ever been with me.
25 reasons dogs are the best pets on Earth
Third up this week, Beaujolais …
Travel 200 miles south-east from Paris and you may find Dijon, at the northern end of the Burgundy wine region. Wend your way south towards Lyon through Burgundy (land of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and you'll end up in Beaujolais (land of Gamay). That sounds good to me (I'll take a pass on the Nouveau, however). One once could find California wines labeled Gamay Beaujolais. That's no longer legal (because they were really Pinot Noir, mostly). One once could find California wines labeled Napa Gamay. That's no longer legal (because they were really Valdiguié, mostly). Red Beaujolais is made from the Gamay Noir grape variety, and I really like it. I would be delighted to travel from Paris through Dijon, stopping on my way towards Lyon to enjoy a bunch of Beaujolais. So many delicious and gulpable wines. So many that are still affordable. I dream of assembling a tasting of the 10 Beaujolais Crus (prestige regions within Beaujolais). Perhaps when we can once again revel with enough friends to warrant opening 10 bottles at once.
The Insider's Guide to Beaujolais
And a bit more. I end with a taste of Mary Oliver poetry each week. For this week here's an entire poem before the tasty end.
Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night
By Mary Oliver (from Dog Songs)
He puts his cheek against mine
and makes small, expressive sounds.
And when I’m awake, or awake enough
he turns upside down, his four paws
in the air
and his eyes dark and fervent.
"Tell me you love me," he says.
"Tell me again."
Could there be a sweeter arrangement? Over and over
he gets to ask.
I get to tell.
And that’s all for this week.
From Mary Oliver’s poem Sometimes …
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
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