Digressions: My Life in 500 Words or Less

Months ago I wrote my blog about the loss of availability of my favorite beer, Sierra Nevada Porter. Though many other Sierra Nevada beers are sold locally, their porter is no longer offered anywhere in the state, even beyond. I knew the porter was still being produced, but its availability was now limited geographically.

In my January blog post I wrote about the fact I still had a few bottles left once I realized it was no longer available. So I felt I needed to ration the few I had left. By the time the blog was posted I was down to three bottles of Sierra Nevada Porter.

Eventually my stash dwindled to one.

And I held onto that one. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it, knowing it was the last bottle of Sierra Nevada Porter I would have for the foreseeable future.

It sat in my portable fridge for months.

Then about two months ago or so, during a virtual meeting with my writers’ group, The Bard’s Corner Writers’ Group, a friend mentioned she would be traveling to Asheville, N.C. I brought up the fact that Sierra Nevada had a brewery located there that me and Becca had visited a few years ago. This, of course, led to my lamentations over the loss of the local availability of my favorite beer.

I thought nothing of the conversation after that. In fact, I had forgotten about it until a few weeks later when Katie, the friend who had traveled to Asheville, revealed to me she had brought back a case of Sierra Nevada Porter for me. She had visited the brewery for that express purpose.

What an amazing and thoughtful gift. I couldn’t thank Katie enough, and I still can’t.

Thank you, Katie.

The Sierra Nevada Porter also arrived in time for me to enjoy a couple as I celebrated the recent 20th anniversary of The Bard’s Corner Writers’ Group. That made the celebration even more special than it already was.

Already I know I will be judicious about my consumption of my favorite beer. It is a commodity. But it is one I know I will enjoy that much more.

And that gift postponed the “end of days” mentioned in my January blog post. I will mourn another day.

Oh, and that lone Sierra Nevada Porter I had rationed and saved?

I finally popped it open.

It had awaited its bretheren for long enough. It was finally time for it to be freed, to be enjoyed.

As it was meant to be.