On 4/19/10 11:19 AM, Ed Rasimus wrote:
> the annual reunion of the
> Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Assoc. (River Rats) which took place
> this year in Orlando FL...[SNIP] are not
> known for good taste and sophisticated palates with regard to wine.
>
> That's why I was stunned on Saturday night at the formal banquet when
> seated at a table of eight fighter pilots and their ladies awaiting
> the distribution of gray, dry beef or rubber chicken in glutinous
> white sauce which is traditional hotel banquet fare, I scanned the
> setting noting a 1.75l of red wine and white. Things would be bleak
> apparently.
>
> Then across from me one of the bemedalled aviators put forth a bottle
> of wine which he had brought in to the hall with him. It was a
> unpretentious little California offering labeled as "red wine"--a 2002
> Opus One!

Hey, Ed!
It's no great surprise to me that aviator reunions get the same
treatment as scientific conventions: bland institutional food and even
more indifferent wine. It's good to hear that one of your compatriots
showed the foresight and the taste to bring a good bottle of wine with
him. He sounds like someone to cultivate for future get-togethers.

Mark Lipton
(veteran of too many of those banquets)

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