I don’t believe in guilt.
I fondly remember one of my professors at university saying that love, fear and joy were innate emotions but guilt was a man-made one.
He said put guilt on your shoulder and flick it away.
However, having said that, I still felt somewhat guilty when I left my pregnant daughter the day before her 40th birthday last year when I went to France.
So now a year later she has turned 41 and has a beautiful son.
“Let’s go on a mother-daughter road trip” I suggest, “and we will celebrate your 40th birthday a year late.”
Better late than never.
So off we go with her leaving her baby for the first time in 10 months in the capable hands of her husband.
I drive along the Crowsnest Highway 3 on our way to Naramata. Maneuvering those curves in the road makes me feel like I am Michael Andretti. Or perhaps Thelma and Louise!
My daughter is able to relax and enjoy the beautiful BC scenery as we make our way to wine country.
We stop at the first winery in Naramata where we are able to enjoy a lemony Pinot Blanc with an artisan cheese pairing. As my daughter has ten years in the wine industry, she and the employee speak in a language I barely understand. It is fun listening to them compare the characteristics of each wine we sample.
Of course I regale the young assistant with tales of my travels when I was younger, specifically, my comparing myself to the gal in the movie Mamma Mia. Except I didn’t get pregnant! My daughter is used to me carrying on like this and is no longer embarrassed.. I have a captive audience of course as he wants to make a sale. He even suggests I start my own You-Tube channel.
Back in the car again until we reach our destination, a beautiful inn which is over one hundred years old.
The sun is shining as we sit on our patio sipping our Pinot Blanc. Did I mention how lemony it is?
Ah, life is good sharing this time with my daughter. Our relationship has not always been an easy one. When I think of her teenage years, I cringe but then I chuckle as I hope I am still around when her son becomes a teenager!
But here she is, a beautiful, intelligent albeit opinionated woman of middle age.
So then we walk down to the pub to watch the Vancouver Canucks game (we won) and have a surprisingly good supper with more wine of course. This time it is a local Pinot Gris with a rose tinge.
Walking back to our hotel, I pick a bouquet of lilacs to place beside my bed.
It is now late and my daughter is fast asleep, having been sleep-deprived for 10 months.
The next day, we are off to visit three wineries, all high-end of course. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Again, she speaks the foreign language of oenophiles which is cathartic for her as she has given up her career to be a stay-at-home mum.
She introduces me to the Spanish Albarino varietal or Alvarinho as it is known in Portugal as you guessed it. I am leaving for Europe again this week.
The wonderful day ends with an overpriced dinner coupled with a citrusy Semillon.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this month, I am feeling blessed and so grateful to have this woman in my life.
And she gets to celebrate her first Mother’s Day with her adorable son.
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