Lindeman - Shiraz @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Give this Shiraz ample time to breathe and you will have yourself one indulgent glass of red! At first taste, this wine left me unimpressed, however, after ample breathing room and a little patience, this wine delivered surprisingly good results. This is an important rule for all red wine drinkers to uphold--ALWAYS give your red time to breathe, to bring out its flavors, its complexity, its personality...
I don't deal with grief very well. My entire life my family has lived far away from me. One half of my family lives in the Southern United States while the other half is located in Quebec, Canada. Even into my young adult life, I've somehow found myself many times in long distance relationships---the only exception being my current relationship, to whom I am engaged to be married. I moved to Florida in part to seek a warmer climate, but also to become more acquainted with my Grandfather. I just found out today that he has endured a 3rd stroke (he is 91 years old).

By my saying I do not deal with grief well, by no means do I intend to say that I am in hysterics. I simply do not react how most would expect. There are no tears. It seems that almost every major crisis has been brought to my attention over the phone. In each moment of intensity, I lose my breath, a ball welling within my throat. The response is delayed---days away I might finally feel the release.

I'm saddened to the point that my hands shake and I have a difficult time concentrating and forming my words---this entire blog entry has taken me much too long to write. Constant re-wording, re-working, re-imagining what I mean to say, simply because, I can't find the words.

The first time he had a stroke, I was a day shy of graduating from college. Now, I'm looking forward to my marriage and I feel privileged that it seemed he would be around. Now...who knows. I'm hopeful, he's a fighter even at 91, but I'm worried. And I just can't find the words...