"People talk about escapism as if it's a bad thing... Once you've escaped, once you come back, the world is not the same as when you left it. You come back to it with skills, weapons, knowledge you didn't have before. Then you are better equipped to deal with your current reality.” ― Neil Gaiman

To my mind, both laughter and wine are forms of escape. Vastly different ones, yes… but that fundamental fact remains the same, and we all need a little escape in our lives. Perhaps your choices differ to mine, but neither are wrong… they are simply different.

Whether referring to figurative or literal escape, I think it is a fundamental necessity to retaining sanity in this world. We all live on what resembles a "constantly in motion" hamster wheel and a break from that repetitive monotony is really very important – not to mention reprieve from the levels of stress which so many of us endure. If I didn’t have my escape methods, I fear I might actually lose my mind! - No, really! lol...

Moments of escape in our lives afford us the opportunity to re-group our thoughts and emotions. It replenishes the cup of enthusiasm and gives us a few moments to “have fun”. There is a vital form of freedom in that!

When looking at Laughter as an escape…

I realise that on first or brief inspection, one may not consider laughter an escape mechanism, but it absolutely is and it presents itself in many manners. Whether it is through the enjoyment of a good comedy, sharing funny memories around a dinner table with family or giggling at your child as they entertain you with their innocently expressed moments of “funnies” – they are ALL momentary escapes.

They literally pull you out of your own mind and place you into a space where you forget about all your worries, even if it is but for a few minutes.

When looking at wine as an escape…

Personally, I have three primary “escapes” – Music would unquestionably be first on that list, second would be cooking (yes, some women can still cook and actually enjoy it lol) and last but not least is red wine! Aaaaah Red, Red wine! (cue UB40 lol) Yip – It sure does take a lot to beat the sound of that gorgeously velvet liquid pouring into a wine glass – and the moments which follow as that first sip hits your taste buds is simply heavenly. All the worries of the world simply melt away into deliciousness! That for me is the perfect trio of “figurative escape” – Good Music – Good Food and Good Wine!

Perhaps it is a female thing though… hahaha! Because my partner is quite big on telling me that women are "80% wine and 20% w(h)ining. Haha! - As an avid wine drinker, I can only argue with 20% of that statement. ;)

Wine is to me, what sports are to men - except a little more seductive! lol Wine is one of those beauties in a woman's life that simply makes everything better again. hehe! Yip - it is what stops us from murdering our boyfriends and husbands and doing a Michael Jackson on our kids lol!

When you put a group of women together for some "good food and good wine"... ALL the adventures come out!! And let's clarify this... women in general are a lot more demonstrative with their feelings than our male counterparts, so as a general rule we tend to share our deepest darkest "everything" with our girlfriends...so you can only imagine just how much more graphic it gets with a little help from our fermented friends :) And then there is the "yak yak yak"...hehe... An art EVERY woman has mastered... which as you would naturally gather, involves a lot of laughter!

And last but not least, I am a mom - and ALL moms know just how much we owe in thanks to wine! hahaha!!! - It deserves a proper speech of recognition really, for all the sanity it affords us throughout the years lol - and on that note, I am going to go and make a yummy mac n cheese for dinner, stick on the tunes and pour myself a glass of merlot heaven - so cheers to that!