Pizza & Friendships

Over the last couple of years, Lisa and I have really focused on broadening our leisure time, hopefully as a prelude to what life might look like when we reach retirement or semi-retirement. I hope to use this space to document favorite activities and places visited.  Sometimes my posts might be strictly reviews but in other cases, like today’s, there will also be lessons learned I want to share.

In the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), Lisa and I wandered up to Excelsior Springs, Missouri, for a 4^th of July getaway. We stayed at the historic Elms Hotel and had a great time hitting some local wineries and dining spots. However, it was the final visit on our trip that has lingered with us for the past 30 months… a trip to Van Till Family Farm Winery in the small town of Rayville, MO. Driving to the property one could easily convince themselves that they were lost but after many hills and curves on the highway, we found ourselves visiting the most delightful establishment. It would be easy to say if you’re in the area drop in but that would be a stretch. I don’t think you’d just happen by the vineyard. Let me rephrase things and say that a specific trip to visit the winery is highly recommended; don’t just rely on being in the neighborhood. Plan to get yourself there (and visit dozens of other nice wineries in the Missouri area).

The Van Till property is beautiful and the wines of good quality. However, what caught our attention the most was the brick pizza oven built into their tasting patio and the owner’s friendliness in visiting with patrons about his vision for the property and why he left California to open his shop in rural Missouri. He attentively participated in multiple conversations as he churned out brick oven pizza after brick oven pizza. The pizzas were incredible, but the evening of fellowship, storytelling and friend making were the absolute best. We found ourselves engaging in conversation with others enjoying the evening … people we had never met and will likely never interact with again.

Fast forward to Christmas 2022 and what appears under my tree as a gift from Lisa but my very own Bertello pizza oven! I’m hoping it’s a gift with foreshadowing because we’ve both talked about how cool it’d be to replicate the Van Till experience in our retirement years. A quick level-set… I’ve got a long way to go to achieve a pizza one could call delicious, but I love trying. I’ve even included a couple images of my first night of pizza-making as evidence of my endeavors.

The pizza we consumed at the winery was indeed excellent. The enjoyment though went beyond great food.  What made that evening in the summer of 2020 so special was not the pizza or the wine specifically. It was the fellowship and camaraderie of sharing life with others.  It was the act of making new friends and listening to great stories and experiences.

I’m forever grateful that we found Van Till Family Farm Winery. At some point we’ll return. But the lessons learned are still with us in Oklahoma City. I can’t promise you a great pizza, but I’ll give it my best if you’re ever interested in hanging out and chatting. Enjoying ommunity is when we are our best.