The Sommelier Vs Us

I just got back from a cruise to Alaska.  The alcohol was included in my fare.  I know, I know.  There was a bottle of champagne on ice when we entered our cabin the first day.  Here's a fun fact - I would have put a hurting on that company 32 years ago.  I would, to this day, be on some secret Do Not Cruise list.  You know how gamblers are banned from casinos if they're caught counting cards?  By very large men in black suits and mirrored sunglasses?  Those men would have walked into my cabin and tossed me 8 stories into the water.  Without comment. 

Anyway, it wasn't a problem for either SuperK or me.  And we were flabbergasted to walk into a posted Friends of Bill W meeting and find someone there already.  We were fully prepared to sit in the card room for a few minutes and then go to dinner.  Moreover, eight people showed up - 4 of us with 30 years plus; 2 with over 20; one kook with 14; and a relative newcomer with 2 years.  One of the attendees was an employee on the ship with an obligation to host a nightly table in the main restaurant.  Because wine service was such an integral part of the experience he had to take a glass of wine, swirl it around, pretend to take a sip, then surreptitiously switch it with a co-worker who knew he was in recovery.  Ship management didn't want the guests to feel uncomfortable about drinking or he would have simply stated he was an alcoholic.

So he invited all eight of us to dinner one night, along with an Al-Anon spouse.  The first order of business for the restaurant staff was for the sommelier to present to the our host, with a great, somber flourish, the two wine selections for the evening.

"I don't drink," Doug said.  "And no one else at the table wants wine, either."

The sommelier gave him a look that we clearly interpreted as "I don't believe you."

"Go ahead," Doug said, with a bemused flourish right back at him.

The man began to describe the red wine.  The table was smiles all around.  A few of us were giggling.  His voice trailed off.  He trailed off, to many thanks from all of us.  

I caught his eye when he was replacing the bottles of wine.

"Has that ever happened before?" I asked.

"Never," he said.  "That has never happened before."

Score one for the home team.