Have you ever come across someone who was just so naturally good at something you couldn’t help but wish “Man, I wish I could do that as well as them.”? And I’m not talking about performance skills like singing or dancing – though I know a certain blogger who wishes he was good enough at singing that he wouldn’t have gotten cut from 4^th and 5^th grade chorus and then had to watch his class plays from the audience. Sigh. Thank you for coming to my therapy session. I’m also not talking about sports skills – what professional athletes do today (and yester-year) is absolutely amazing. But for most of us, we know early on that we don’t have the necessary talent/skills to become a star in any of those areas. Instead, what I am talking about are what some people (I can give you a list of names if you really need to know who) call “soft skills”. “What are soft skills” you ask? For the purpose of this blog, they are whatever I say they are. Ha ha. Just kidding.  Let me give a couple examples.

We have all had a friend/co-worker who had the ability to make everyone feel comfortable, no matter what the setting. Perhaps it is a new employee starting and they help them immediately feel like part of the team. Or instead maybe it is a work happy hour you have brought your roommate to and this person is able to once again make your roommate feel at ease in the midst of a group of people whom they don’t know.  When you have a conversation with these people, they make you feel like you are a welcome part of their world. They will never become rich or famous for this ability – but how many moments/people do they impact with this skill? I’ve always been a bit envious of people who can do this.

My dad had another skill like this – the ability to tell a story. I’m not talking about reading a bedtime story, though I am sure he was good at that as well. I’m talking about telling stories about everyday life experiences. Not quite Paul Harvey, but close. I swear, he could make checking out at the grocery store sound as compelling as “The Shawshank Redemption”. “So I’m putting my bread on the conveyor belt and the lady behind me asks where I found it. I turn around and see she has a honey butter and we start comparing our favorite breads and spreads . . .”  By the end of the story, you are dying to know whether the bread and butter ever got together! He could almost even make listening to his golf round sound interesting . . . almost but not quite. No one is that good of a storyteller! But my dad was quite good at it – I always wish I had inherited that ability. But whenever I try to replicate it, Mrs. Chump is usually looking at me with a look that says “Are you done yet? Can you get to the point?”. Probably what readers of this blog are thinking as well. Sigh. I try. Sometimes.

I guess my point is to realize that there are people with amazing abilities walking around us every day. They may not use those abilities every day and those abilities might not draw a lot of attention, but to the people in their circle who both witness and benefit from them, they are absolutely extraordinary. The friend who comes by and helps you take a room full of clutter and gets it organized. Or the friend who always knows the right comforting words to say in tough times. The neighbor with incredible handy-man skills that is always willing to help you fix what might be broke. They might not be life-changing abilities, but in the moments they are used, they sure seem like it. So my other point might also be to take a look around at the circles of people around you and recognize and appreciate some of those hidden skills they bring into your life. And while you are at it, appreciate your own abilities you are contributing to their lives as well.

In summary, cheers to everyone who not only have these amazing abilities but are also willing to share them with the rest of us! And what better way to “cheers” them than a glass of sparkling wine, the ultimate toasting wine! “Ahhh, Champagne”, you say. Welp, not exactly. This week’s toast-worthy wine is made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. “But Don, you dummy. Those are some of the same grapes used to make Champagne. Don’t you know anything?” That’s a great question that I’d rather not answer. But I will say that yes, these are the same grapes that are used in making Champagne (minus Pinot Meunier) . . .  BUT (sorry, I like big buts and I cannot lie), it was not made in Champagne, which means it cannot be called Champagne. Yup, it is that simple – only wine made in Champagne can be called Champagne. Our wine this week is made in the same manner as Champagne but is instead made in Burgundy, and so is therefore called Crémant de Bourgogne. This particular wine, Simonnet-Febvre Crémant de Bourgogne is a Brut sparkling wine. Per my own (and others) tasting notes, it will have hints of green apple, pear and citrus flavors with very small bubbles and a nice “fizz”. It was extremely enjoyable and refreshing to drink and at a very affordable price (between $25-$30), can be used to “toast” quite frequently! For those wondering, I initially found this wine through the “Burgundy” class offered at The Wine House in Fairfax. If you haven’t taken one of their Sunday classes, I highly recommend it. Well worth the time and price!!!

I certainly hope you have the opportunity to not only try this beautiful sparkling wine, but to toast one of your own “soft-skill stars” while doing so!

Cheers!

Wine Stat Sheet