We got a strong rainstorm Saturday evening - as we were winding up dinner at the Damariscotta River Grill.  Salmon for me and back ribs for Donna.  The rainstorm was timed perfectly. Parking lot flooded, shoes soaked. Last time that happened to us was in Venice when the Aqua Alta was knee deep. Our shoes were still drying 18 hours later.

Before we went to DRG, we spent a few hours at the Walpole Barn where Warren and Deb Storch offer a unique selection of gifts, home furnishings and a curated collection of wines. On Saturdays, Warren hosts a generous, convivial wine tasting for vacationers and neighbors.  Call ahead to confirm tasting is on (207) 563-7050). One of Warren’s favorite things to do is  blind evaluations.  He’ll open two or three  bottles, pour a splash of each in your glass, and tell you what he thinks, and then you tell him what you think.  It’s fair. The wine is free.

It’s not unusual that Warren pours wines whether or not he’s got them in stock to sell.  That can be a downer, but he'll find something you’ll like on his shelves. On this sunny, clear Saturday afternoon there were about 30 people sitting around a long table.  As the second hour passed, Warren  remarked that he likes to sample wines he knows and likes.  Then, under his breath, he said that it was likely his wife, Deb, would later  comment, “Well good job!  You used 38 glasses and opened  a dozen bottles.” Some kind of business strategy, eh?”

I don’t know about the business side,  but Donna and I enjoyed learning a little bit more about wine while enjoying a delightful and Saturday afternoon on the lawn in Walpole, Maine. The Walpole Barn | Products For A Good Life.  https://walpolebarn.com

And, as a bonus, two of Donna’s abstract paintings are on display in the wine annex.  Yes, we did buy two bottles of  the Spanish white wine, Albarino One last thing ... kudos to Walmart in Brunswick . The retailer has Vision Centers in many of its stores. And that’s the last place I’d expect to get a top flight, professional experience and service for something critical as  eyeglasses.  But, I did. Color me impressed.

On Friday afternoon, I walked into  the, store, a little bit wary  because I know there’s. huge profit margin on glasses. But here I am at a discounter so I’m prejudiced to believe I cannot get a quality product or a professional experience.  Wrong!

I stood in the store for a few minutes, overwhelmed by displays of several hundred frames, with prices ranging from $9, plus lenses, to hundreds of dollars for brand names like Calvin Klein and RayBan.  Then David approached and asked if he could help me.

Now, something you might not know about me, but I hate retail.  Many moons ago, I founded and owned a chain of video rental stores in DC.  Eleven outlets at the peak before the blue-and-yellow Blockbuster snowball overwhelmed us.  We were a merry band of movie lovers - Jake, Pete, Bob, Dan, and dozens of others who were excited to be part a revolutionary new media - VCRs, video games, Laserdiscs, CEDs, Betamax - but I digress.

So, David comes up to me.  He’s an older guy (aren’t we all?). And he goes through a not-so-spontaneous description of what’s what and where’s where.  He’s doing well, low pressure, letting me wander the store and sample frames on my own.

Bottom line, I find a frame I like, give David my prescription and, Tuesday (four days later), I’ve got new glasses featuring correction for double vision and progressive lenses.  Three days later, David calls to say that “the lab” has custom-produced for me a lens to fit an older pair of glasses and, what do you know?, I’ve got a second pair of glasses for $50.  Kudos to David. Says he’s worked for Walmart for 25 years.  He’s a super star!