NO WINE BEFORE ITS PRICE

EYES FORWARD IN MY FAVORITE CHAIR I CATCH SIGHT OF THREE SEPARATE VULTURES RIDING THE THERMALS, OUTLINED AS GRACEFUL GLIDERS AGAINST A PALE BLUE SKY PATCHED WITH COTTON CLOUDS, SEARCHING FOR TASTY MEALS. I TOO LOOK FORWARD TO A SATISFYING DINNER, BUT MINE IS ACCOMPANIED WITH WHAT THE POET OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES CALLED, "THE GRAND SPECIFIC AGAINST DULL DINNERS." WINE. FAR LESS VARIETY IS AVAILABLE TO THE SCAVANGERS OF THE SKIES THAN ME, THE FOOD-APPRECIATIVE OMNIVORE, BUT OUR SHARED OPERATIONAL PHILOSOPHY IS THE LOW COST.

THE ENJOYMENT OF VARIETALS HAS ITS PRICE; MINE APPROACHES THE VANISHING POINT. WHO CAN JUSTIFY SIPPING OR GULPING AN EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WINE OTHER THAN SAMPLERS PAID TO EVALUATE IT? WHO CAN WRITE, OTHER THAN A SUBSIDIZED OENOPHILE, THAT A "TASTY VACATION WINE," CAN BE FOUND FOR LESS THAN $30.00 A BOTTLE? MY DAILY VACATION IS DINNER WITH A GLASS OF CHEAP, RED WINE. AS A GOOD, PARSIMONIOUS STEWARD OF THE LAND OF MODERATION, I WOULD FACE THE GUILT OF A THOUSAND SINS IF I JUSTIFIED A WINE PRICED AT MORE THAN $5.00 A BOTTLE. FOR REGULAR CONSUMPTION, IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY EASY TO BE SATISFIED WITH MY $3.00 NECTARS. THE PRICE OF MEAT PER POUND MUST ALSO FOLLOW A SIMILAR, SET LIMIT.

DISNEY WORLD, INCLUDING THE DISNEY CRUISE LINE, OPENS MORE THAN A MILLION BOTTLES OF WINE A YEAR. READING BETWEEN THESE WORDS, ITS APPARENT THAT VACATIONERS, DISNEY, WINE AND SUMPTIOUS MEALS ADD UP TO TASTES WAY BEYOND MY MEANS AND CHOICES.