Wine unlocks sensuality.

Wine unlocks sensuality in us, and I’m not the only one who’s found this to be true. Wine Folly is also right there with us. Give me a great Italian accent and I perk up my ears, although Spanish and French will do it, too. How about you? I remember being in Siena, Italy with an Italian wine rep, among other people in our party. As we came around a corner, there stood a group of Emiliano’s friends. Without even thinking he greeted them with “Ciao, ciao, ciao!” in friendly and excited rapid fire. I was happy to be married, because I might have made a fool of myself, being twice their age.

Wine and friends, what’s not to love?

Wine, Fun, And Friends

I believe, with others, that wine in moderation is a proper response. My wine friends are easy going, adventurous people who enjoy tasting wines. Quick Pétanquer to add is Dave Anderson, who reads my blog and reports to our friends, “Jo’s done it again!” The there’s Darryl Miller who finds us shopping in the grocery store. It’s fun to have wine people from all walks of life.

Our Monday night pétanque game is a ritual, from spring through fall with friends, with Jim Theile and my Jose providing court grooming. Rich Stratton fills in with weekly court grooming, when either Jim or Jose is not available. Each couple brings a bottle of wine and something to nibble. We just enjoy nibbles, lively discussions, and what we think of the wines.

Wine’s Romantic, If You Haven’t Figured It Out

Wine’s romantic, hard liquor is so “Mad Men” of the 50s-60s, and beer has always been typical for sports events. So, again, romance, candle light, delicious foods, chocolate, flowers, music, sunsets, dinner, and even jewelry might be included. How dare anyone try to take that away from me or you? There’s enough romance for everybody, and wine is a delicious and enjoyable route. Also, consider moderation when enjoying it. It’s better for your body and mind.

This is NOT in the no-prohibitionist playbook, and it’s important for us to each decide what’s best for us. I been enjoying this lifestyle for the last 32 years and so are many of my wine friends. Every now and then someone drops out, but the important fact is that those friends have remained friends all of this time. It’s an ever evolving and ever opening lotus.

Jo Diaz’ relationship to yoga

Not Everyone Is Born An Alcoholic

Plow position (below), don’t try it if you’re just starting out, but is one of my mainstays, due to my yogic lifestyle.

I used to teach anatomy and physiology, and one of the first things I stressed was the difference between disorders and diseases. A disease is caused by pathogenic bacteria, like measles, mumps, rubella, etc. The diseases with inoculations, so we avoid getting them. Then, we have disorders, where our bodies are not “in order,” like heart issues, nutritional or mental health disorders. Alcoholism is not a disease, it’s a disorder, because it is not caused by pathogenic bacteria. I’m just being clear on the clinical definition.

Choose Your Information Carefully

There are two sides to every story, and we need to choose our sources carefully. The medical profession tells us, “you’ve got a disease,” when in fact, it’s most probably a disorder. When it’s caused by pathogenic bacteria, yes, it needs something to kill it in your body. When it’s called a disorder, though, we have to do something about it, which could involve a doctor’s help. And, I don’t even feel it’s really been brought on by the medical profession as a disorder is much as a disease. It’s an industry, political control issue.

The Days of Wine and Roses

Hippies Are Still Among Us

You might not remember when marijuana was legal, but it was also not illegal. Marijuana was commonly used, in various medicinal preparations in the early 1900s. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 required that certain drugs, including cannabis, should be accurately labeled. Still, it wasn’t prohibiting their use or sale. In the 1970s, it began to be decriminalize, and then fairly recently made legal again.

Check out this graph below, then follow the political climate. Conservatives are not fans of wine, but they love hard liquor, like the three cocktail lunch. And, these states are still associated with hard liquor, like Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. We have a dry president, ergo, prohibitionism. It will rise again, it always does, because history tells us so.

Vox: fewer Americans report drinking, at present. And the graph will change again, with politics.

As my Jose likes to say, “We report, you decide.”

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Written by Jo Diaz, a partner of Diaz Communications, who is helping to make stars realize their dreams. Edited by partner Jose Diaz. To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz: jo@diaz-communication