It is Friday — a long day ahead of me driving 3 hours for a distributor meeting.  That also means 3 hours back later this afternoon…assuming no traffic.  But I’m psyched because I know when I return, I get to have a little family time tonight.  That’s right — no late night partying for this wine warrior.  Tonight is Wii night with my youngest.

Game on little one. 

Seriously, there are few things I enjoy more than moving the coffee table out of the way to clear room for some seriously animated Wii bowling & Wii tennis.  Tonight — I hope to achieve ‘pro’ status — with a little luck.  My youngest is 7 years old and she is seriously good at these games.  Her form absolutely cracks me up — actually distracts me — which may be one of her strategies.  In bowling, she jumps up, throws the opposite foot out in front of her, whirls her arm around — it is comical to watch — until she ‘strikes’ just about every time and beats me by about 75 points.  Same goes for her tennis and that wicked ‘Ninja Serve’ as she calls it.

My 7th grade boy joins us as well — but he is seriously good — completely in another league.  He’s the Tiger Woods of Wii.  And, in fact, that is the game I play with him most often — Wii golf.  In this game, he beats me regularly…but it is close. 

Tonight…he’s going down.

My oldest is in high school.  Often just a little too cool to play Wii — but when in the mood, she too is a Wii bowling genius.  And I think the best thing about it (in case you don’t have a 16 year old high school daughter) is seeing her smile ear to ear playing.  At that age, it isn’t something a Dad sees that often.  It is worth the price of admission to be sure.

OK — so life changes.  My idea of a good time on Friday night is hanging with my family, absorbed in some seriously competitive Wii, and living in the moment.  Certainly didn’t used to be that way — but that’s what parenthood does.  It gets you in touch with emotions you didn’t even know you had. 

Wine, by the way, is involved.  I mean, the house is also a winery in the back.  But tonight, wine will not be center stage — it will be a subtle complement to the situation.  I’m thinking something bright & happy — like the family scene.  More than likely, my 2007 ‘Oak Free’ Humanitas Chardonnay.  Or maybe a barrel sample of a few things — just to check out their progress.  Not sure — but rest assured — no matter what it is, it goes great with family time playing Wii!