On Happiness…
Wine is one of those rare products that in nearly every case in which it is used, it adds to the happiness of the occasion.
In my world, I measure the value of a person, product, occasion, situation, place or time in terms of the degree to which it provides me and others with happiness. This makes wine a pretty valuable commodity in my world.
And yet, for all the happiness wine brings to my life, both personal and professional, it comes not even
close to providing the kind of happiness as Kathy's presence in my life brings. So imagine how happy, overly giddy and profoundly blissful I felt when Kathy said "yes" to my proposal concerning the rest of our lives.
I'm a man that comes with a bit of baggage, both heavy and oddly light in some cases. I can never be sure how the weights and measures of that baggage will impact others. And so when a person as profoundly
thoughtful, as carefully opinionated, and as constantly contemplative as my Kathy accepts my proposal, I find myself completely astonished by just how beautiful my life really is, how lucky a man I am, and how surprising life remains.
Of course, my responsibility now is to work constantly to become as valuable to Kathy as I possibly can be; to prove her intuition and thoughtful response had the greatest value to her and will always hold the greatest value; to become the finest wine on her table.
Tom,
I am so very happy for the two of you! Congratulations darlin’.
So sweet. Congrats.
Congratulations my friend…she didn’t even hold the Chocolate Johnson against you!
Jim is right! She said yes after watching you take down a dessert that looked like a poo, that girl is a keeper!
Well, we know she’s no fool when it comes to picking a spouse (the man may propose, but the woman decides).
well written as usual you do have a way with words and you are both so lucky!! Congrats!!
and as a congratulations-gift, this great poem by Leo Marks which had a role at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding:
The life that I have is all that I have
And the life that I have is yours
The love that I have of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have, a rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years in the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.
Congratulations to you both!
(Thank heavens we’re off the Chocolate Johnson commentary. The Leo Marks poem is so much lovelier to ponder.)
All the best Tom!
Congrats!
Tom,
Congratulations to you and Kathy both. This may be the best marketing job you’ve ever done.
You’re both lovely people who deserve all the happiness a great marriage has to offer. May I suggest getting married at the next Wine Bloggers’ Conference? So romantic.
Congratulations, Tom! Thanks for letting us all know too. Always tough to decide how much personal information to write on a blog, but this is definitely one to share.
Also true about wine and happiness. I left a job in environmental advocacy and am amazed everyday at how there are nothing but happy people in the wine business, and nothing but unhappy people in environmental advocacy.
May you toast your congratulations with the very best wine (and not one of ours…)
Tom (of the post above), perhaps that’s because in environmental advocacy, people understand how serious the problems are that face the world and our future.
Tom Wark: a lovely post and congratulations. and it case you’re wondering, you’re valuable to all of us.
Tom-Congrats! Much deserved for you both!
Congratulations, Tom. Best wishes for you and your future wife.
Congratulations and best wishes to both of you!
Well done. Life is like that. Just when you think it has stopped playing tricks on you, you go and fall in love. Congrats.
Huzzah! May you have many long and happy years together!
I and Kathy accept all of your congratulations. Thank you so much!
Congratulations Thomas!! I wish you the best in life together.
Congrats! You have quit smoking, beaten down the laws of stupidity, AND gotten engaged! May the rest of 2010 be as great 🙂