Into Ease

Some people inspire others out of awk-
wardness and into ease.

Take the spirit salesman I met today.

I entered the liquor store looking over my shoulder wondering who would spot me. For my kitchen recipe work, I wanted two things: wine for a dinner course and cognac for a Nordic dessert. Still, I felt like a closet alcoholic hiding my habit.

I wandered the aisles for fifteen minutes – half alert to my immediate needs and half reminiscent to my "juvenile galavantings." Then the spirit salesman approached me asking, "Can I help you?"

"I don't drink," I sputtered. (It was true. I'd given up alcohol 15 years ago when learning I was pregnant with our first child. Rarely since, have I lifted a glass.) He smiled undaunted.

"Well then," he said, "You've come to the right place."

That unexpected reply put me at ease. I explained about dinner: the meat, the wild rice, the shredded vegetables, spices and the wine to pour over the top as the final ingredient before baking.

"Ah. Yes," he said. "What you need is a CHEAP white wine."

He lead me to the clearance cart, rummaged a bit, pulled out an Italian bottle marked down to a third of its original price and said, "This should do just fine."

When he reassured my hesitation, I ventured on – raising my hand with finger and thumb spread slightly – and said, "I need a tiny bottle of cognac – for a Norwegian dessert."

"Ah-ha!" he eyed me. "So you're a gourmet cook."

"Hardly," I laughed following him to the counter. He bantered, "But you like to dabble in special recipes?"

"Well then," he said lifting an airline-
sized sample from the shelf. I nodded. He rang me up. "If you have any left overs, please feel free to bring them in and we'll gladly taste any samples."

I nodded handing him my check card and said, "I'll remember that."

That... and his ability to turn awkwardness Into Ease.