Wine,Vinegar and Birthdays

My father used to harvest palm wine, and I can tell, it’s sweetest when it’s fresh. Then, some of the harvest we put in containers to ferment to be made into sharp-sour vinegar. Some would process it further: the end product is a fine and mature spirit with a taste usually described as "somewhere between whisky and rum"

I met an Italian who has a passion for vintage cars. In his huge garage, he had also some vintage wine his family made more than six decades ago. Age brings value.

As I go around, I met some great people. They laughed, they celebrated, they cried, they aged; but were saturated with wisdom and pure love. They’re like wine which years have made fine.

I met some old people as well, bitter, sour, full of complaints in life, angry and saturated with laments. They’re like vinegar with sharp sour taste.

I love celebrating birthdays. It reminds us of our blessings, of the people around us and the good things we did. When I’m asked how old I am, I don’t hesitate to pronounce my age; for it’s in age that the world can judge us whether we became wine or vinegar.