August has been an interesting month to say the least, but instead of discussing politics this week, I’m celebrating the 90th birthday of my mother, Marie. She was definitely ahead of her time – she was a journalist, teacher, and librarian as well as my mother. The most unusual thing about her though was that she was a woman Marine in the early 50s.
She became a Marine by mistake. Her mother thought the recruitment telegram upon Marie’s graduation from college was a draft notice. So my mother told all her friends she was being drafted into the Marines. No one amongst her family nor friends seemed to know that the Marines have always been a volunteer force. And no one seemed to register that the U.S. has never drafted women. She volunteered because she had told everyone she was going to be a Marine and she was too embarrassed to tell the truth. Plus, it was a way to be paid to move from Knoxville, Tennessee, to the Big Apple and she had always wanted to live in Manhattan.
A typical Southern belle to the outside world (but with an internal core of steel), she truly tested her sergeants during Officers’ Candidates School at Quantico. She was known for marching her platoon into the Potomac because she said “Stop” instead of “Halt” so the first row got wet boots until the drill sergeant issued the correct command. She would put all her uniforms in the Chinese laundry on Friday and then be borrowing furiously when a snap inspection would be called on Sunday.
The Marine Corps graduated her anyway and sent her to New York to be the public face of the Corps. She appeared on “What’s My Line” and “To Tell The Truth” as well as numerous game shows (which she said were always rigged). She was the Coca Cola Calendar girl in 1953. It was while she was in this post that she met my father who was her boss. In today’s world, they could never have dated.
When she married, she had to resign her commission. Because in those days Women Marines not only couldn’t be in combat but had to wear girdles and stockings (no wiggling please), but they couldn’t be married or, Heavens forbid, ever be pregnant. How the Corps has changed!
So from a double Marine brat, Semper Fidelis, Mother, and a very Happy Birthday!
Recently on “Morning Joe” someone started a conversation about how society has become so coarse, rude, vicious, aggressive, and even impolite. What a surprise! Many of us have noticed this for years – crude language in music, road rage, random violence increasing on the streets. We even have a man who admits in his own words to sexually harassing women as our President. So someone suggested maybe we need to start teaching courtesy, kindness, and manners to the next generation in order to improve America and its politics.
It also included a carriage ride around the center city and a tour of the Lippizaner stables as well as seeing their show. Seeing so many horses perform exquisite moves and riders who do not let you see how they communicate with the horses (including riding the horses without stirrups and having them leap through the air) is an amazing experience. Since cameras clicking and flashes going off might disturb the horses, no one can take pictures once the horses are brought in to perform, but you can see from the picture of the empty arena that it is fully decorated and the chandeliers are such that they could be in any palace in the world. The riding school has a fascinating history that includes their being saved in World War Two by General Patton and Colonel Reed in what was called Operation Cowboy.
Tillman Gilson 
Escape to Napa
Once again it was necessary to escape the politics of DC and the hot and humid weather so we flew to California and Napa Valley – three nights in the Valley and one in San Francisco. What a wonderful break!
If you take the crack of dawn flight you arrive at 10 am with the whole day in front of you. We chose Fox Rental cars since they had the best deal on a convertible – and with gorgeous weather predicted, a convertible seemed like the best idea. (It was.) It was glow in the dark bright blue which did mean we could never lose it in a parking lot.
Our first stop on the way was the charming town of Sausalito where we wandered and asked a local woman who was sitting in an Information booth to advise on a great place for lunch. Her recommendation was Poggio Trattoria right on the main street which she said was a local favorite. It was excellent. Some of the very best food ever and the bread was mouthwatering. We had a Caesar salad and a grilled artichoke that truly were superb in addition to our pasta and risotto.
Mount Tamalpais
From there we drove to Mount Tamalpais where we wanted to see the Redwoods in the Muir Park. Unfortunately on a Wednesday afternoon it was impossible to find a parking place within miles of the Redwoods but we did go to Muir Beach and walk around while children jumped waves and played in the dark sand. We then drove to the top of Tamalpais and what views of the hills, the Pacific, and San Francisco!
From there we headed to Napa through winding roads and farming and wine country. Cows and horses in adjacent fields to rows of grapes! Dry grasses and green olive trees and vineyards. It was a great trail through the back roads all the way to Napa.
We checked into the Silverado where the staff was wonderful but the facility definitely needs a facelift. Everything worked and was clean but age was making itself obvious. It did have a wonderful golf course however which looked to be in fantastic condition. Their breakfast was excellent – especially the eggs benedict.
Our first evening meal was at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Yountville is a wonderful town with the famous French Laundry restaurant as well as their gardens and gardens and quaint houses as well as wine stores and the Laundry’s bakery which has a long line out front in the morning.
Bistro Jeanty is wonderful. Traditional bistrot food in a traditional setting but it is very, very good and feels very French although the clientele are very American. We had a delicious dinner of rillettes, boeuf bourguignon, and sole meuniere. Don’t eat lunch though in order to consume all the courses you will want.
The next day was wine tasting. Our first was Black Stallion at 10:30 in the morning. The staff was wonderful and we found several wines we liked – red, of course. Their Pinot and signature cab. I, of course, fell in love with their logo and their top wine, Bucephalus simply because a horse is involved. (Bucephalus was Alexander The Great’s horse.)
Next stop was Del Dotto and their cave which was loads of fun but I wouldn’t buy their wine. It is interesting to tour a cave, but the wine was unimpressive in my view.
Del Ditto Cave
Next stop was Round Pond where we sat outside on a beautiful patio and were served canapés with our wine tasting. This wine was good and the I especially loved their top Cabernet. It was delightful sitting outside and perusing the vines.
For lunch we went to Auberge Au Soleil which overlooks a large property and the hills all around. A perfect place for a lunch based on the food of the area and time of year. The French fries by the way are stupendous!
Our favorite vineyard by far was the Beckstoffer Vineyard.
The Beckstoffer family arrived in Saint Helena over four decades ago to pursue their dream of becoming farmers in what was then a sleepy agrarian corner of the Napa Valley. Now, the vineyards are their home — vocation and avocation, their lives and our livelihood. With Tuck Beckstoffer Estate, Tuck and Boo Beckstoffer share with wines that represent their journey, their family, and the community they’re proud to call home. They are very passionate about their love of the vine and can tell you tales for days. They really do “want to improve the world through wine.”
The inaugural releases of 2014 Mockingbird Red Label and 2014 Amulet are an “allegory of path and place.” Created in collaboration with winemaker Philippe Melka, they set out to create Mockingbird Red Label with one goal in mind: to craft a graceful and timeless wine that tells the story of the Napa Valley. They believe that these wines “weave together not only memories, but look to the future of who and what this land will become.”
In addition to Mockingbird and Amulet red wines, Semper Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Dancing Hares and Mad Hatter (both Bordeaux blends) are available for tasting at Tuck Beckstoffer Estate in their caves daily. Contact Jessica@tbwines.com to make an appointment and you will not regret it. We have already ordered our next delivery.
Bouchon
We had another amazing meal in Yountville at Bouchon, Thomas Keller’s second restaurant in the village that is more casual than French Laundry which is a tasting menu only. Bouchon is truly a step into a brasserie in Paris – the décor, the tables, the bar with 6 seats and all the art work are very traditional. We had eaten and tasted wine all day so most of us ordered appetizers and salads – and then dessert. The traditional frissee salad with croutons, lardons, and a poached egg with vinaigrette dressing was perfect. The serving of musssels had a wonderful garlic sauce, and the fresh tomato salad was truly fresh from the French Laundry Garden. One person got the steak frites and we all thoroughly enjoyed the frites. Although we shouldn’t have we ordered profiteroles (the pastry was perfect as one would assume) and the lemon tart but we loved them and managed to struggle and finish them off.
We stayed one night at The Villagio which was nice – a great location in Yountville – but it will be closed for remodeling in October – and it desperately needs it.
Next week San Francisco!