How to Plant a Vineyard, Part 19: End of the Season

The end of the season has its pros and cons. The pros are that you can finally get some sleep, have a couple of coffees without panicking, play with your child, and talk to your wife, probably in that order.

The downside, however, is that after a few days of such respite, one walks around like a nightmare, looking for something to do, going to the vineyards just to go, without reason or purpose.

Behind me are six months of mistakes and distortions, but also more or less successful moves based on acquired knowledge or just instinct. There are no rules here. You think you’re doing the right thing, but you do it wrong. You think something hasn’t worked out, and it turns out that’s just how it’s supposed to be. You also learn that the vine can forgive, endure a lot, sometimes even add something—you just have to listen and observe it. But I guess that’s how it is with everything, even with people.