Sunday E-dition: New 'Tor Report' + The Broken Toe Chronicles
By Sasha Paulsen and Tor Kenward
The Broken Toe Chronicles
By Sasha Paulsen
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — I have a morning ritual. I fall out of bed and stumble, half-asleep, to the kitchen to put on the kettle to brew my coffee. To make sure I give my French press the right amount of time, I do the exercises a health expert gave me a few years back; he called them my coffee stretches. Then I carry my coffee mug to my desk and think about writing.
At least this was my treasured, faithful ritual until the beginning of December when, before I turned on my tea kettle, I dropped a cutting board on my foot. I had left it next to my coffee press the night before. When I picked it up to move it, it slipped out of my hand.
It is a special cutting board, shaped like a hedgehog. I loved it until it landed with one of its finely carved prickles exactly on my fourth toe.
One very small thing, such as a toe, makes an enormous difference. Considering what a very minor part of an entire body it is, it yields remarkable power to change everything.
My whole morning collapsed. I could barely make my coffee. I sat in a stupor watching my poor toe swell until it resembled an eggplant. A small eggplant to be sure, but still larger than anything else attached to my foot, and extremely purple.
I called Kaiser. They did not have an appointment for three months but said it was possible I had broken my toe, and that if I continued to suffer, to go to an emergency room or urgent care.
Three days later, I limped into urgent care wearing what I could fit on my foot, which was a fur-lined slipper my daughter had sent me from Scotland. I could also, in a pinch, wear a pair of slippers my son had given me, lovely Scandinavian felt ones. They fit without touching the eggplant, but I was feeling like a batty old lady hobbling into Trader Joe’s in my slippers.
Yes, the fine people at urgent care confirmed, my toe was broken. They recommended wrapping, elevating and icing it and ordering a special shoe that would not touch my toe. In four to six weeks, it should be healed. Six weeks for one toe? Yes.
Thus, I spent the holiday season shuffling about in a ridiculous shoe, held together with Velcro and exceedingly inadequate in the rain; and that’s when I was not lying on the sofa trying to balance ice on my elevated toe. My writing schedule went all to pieces.
As the end of December approached, I thought, there must be a lesson to learn in all of this, new wisdom to take into a new year (other than not buying cutting boards shaped like hedgehogs).
And it was true. First, I learned how many other people have broken a toe. If you have to shuffle about in a silly shoe, you fall into wonderful conversations with strangers about toes and how they broke theirs. Some had glamorous tales, such as Tom Fuller, who broke his big toe falling off a surfboard in Hawaii. Others were not quite so worthy of gasconade, such as the woman, who will remain anonymous, who did not even know how she had fractured her toe, but thought maybe that memory was obscured by the excruciating pain she had experienced after tripping “over something.”
I would estimate that at least one of every two people in California has broken a toe and has a tale to tell. But no one I talked to during December had had their toe broken by a hedgehog.
Then I realized something else: one very small thing, such as a toe, makes an enormous difference. Considering what a very minor part of an entire body it is, it yields a remarkable power to change everything.
And there’s one more thing: the capacity of others for kindness. People offered to carry things for me, even though it was my toe that was broken and not my arm. One woman even insisted on scanning my groceries at Whole Foods, as if, somehow, the weird shoe was a sign of some deeper incapacity to weigh my broccoli properly. But it was all well-meant and left me feeling unexpectedly hopeful for the human condition.
The capacity of others for kindness left me feeling unexpectedly hopeful for the human condition. Even a broken toe can remind you of how connected we truly are.
On New Year’s Day, one month after my unfortunate encounter with the hedgehog, I was scheduled to meet a friend for coffee. It was cold and raining. I knew if I hobbled out in my shoe for broken toes, my socks would get wet. I examined my toe. It was no longer purple and while it was still big, it was more like a carrot than an eggplant. I found my oldest, widest and most shapeless shoe. And with inexpressible joy, I realized I could put it on. I could walk. Without pain, or at least without very much. All things come to an end. Broken toes mend.
We are heading into a year, many of us, with considerable trepidation. The news is dreadful. Should I just stop listening when the ability to change it may lie beyond my power? But not everything is. We retain our capacity for kindness to strangers. The ability to share a bond with an unknown person lies entirely in our hands, if not our feet. And small things have great power. Imagine how, repeated again and again, they might add up, and refill dwindling resources of hope and happiness. The mighty accomplishment of putting on a shoe is not something to underestimate.
If today’s story captured your interest, explore these related articles:
Sunday E-dition: Isn't It Romantic? Inside Steve Sando's Kingdom of Beans
Sunday E-dition: Rediscovering Quince, California's Forgotten Fall Fruit
Sasha Paulsen is a journalist and novelist who lives in Napa.
The Tor Report
Welcome to "The Tor Report," a fresh addition to our Sunday E-dition. Each week, Napa Valley vintner and author Tor Kenward will deliver his take on the weather, along with reflections, anecdotes and a dose of humor. Whether he’s sharing insights on the region’s distinct climate or recalling a memorable vintage, Tor’s reports promise to inform, entertain and surprise.
Napa Valley Weather Report
By Tor Kenward
I’ve finally found a job where I can often be wrong and still make friends — it’s called reporting the weather. After nearly 50 harvests as a Napa Valley vintner, this feels like an appealing career change. Unlike winemaking, being a weatherman seems to come with the luxury of occasional inaccuracy.
My weather obsession dates back to years spent grumbling about forecasts during harvests. My son endured it all, and as poetic justice, he gifted me a weather station for my home. While I’m less obsessive now, the habit lingers, and I’ve embraced this tool as my companion in observing nature's quirks.
A weatherman is tethered to nature, bearing witness to both her cruelty and magnificence. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a typical 10-day forecast is accurate only half the time. I aim to do better — though my primary job here is simply reporting current conditions and reflecting on the pressures, both barometric and otherwise, of life as a Napa Valley vintner.
“I get the news I need on the weather report…” – Paul Simon
Weather Station Data:
Location: St. Helena
Date: Jan. 1, 2025
Wind: 1.1 mph
Rain: 0.04 inches (past 24 hours)
Temperature: 61°F – chance of clouds and rainbows
Pressure: 30.22 inHg. “Pressure,” in this case, is barometric and not about selling wine.
Looks like more rain may be on the horizon — a welcome forecast for my winemaking friends, who are all saying, “Bring it on!” Rain means fuller reservoirs and replenished groundwater, essential for the growing season ahead.
In winemaking, AR used to mean "accounts receivable." These days, it’s shorthand for "atmospheric river" — a term that’s all too familiar after 2024’s series of deluges. Translation: a lot of rain in a short time, which, if prolonged, can lead to flooding. It’s also known as the “banana express,” proving that weathermen, like vintners, love a catchy phrase.
My favorite new weather term from last year was “bomb cyclone” — it certainly got my attention. Here’s hoping we avoid those in 2025.
Happy New Year — may your glass always be at least half full.
About Tor Kenward
Tor Kenward is a Napa Valley vintner and author whose career spans more than four decades. He founded TOR Wines in 2001, crafting single-vineyard cabernet sauvignons that reflect the land’s character. Before that, he spent 25 years at Beringer Vineyards where he helped revolutionize the Private Reserve program and worked alongside icons like André Tchelistcheff and Julia Child.
A Vietnam veteran turned vintner, Tor discovered his passion for wine while working as a liquor store clerk and wine buyer. His first Napa Valley harvest in 1977 cemented his love for the region, and he’s been an advocate for cultivating excellence ever since. Tor’s minimalist winemaking philosophy focuses on letting the vineyard shine without interference. His wines continue to earn global acclaim, including top honors at the 2021 “Judgment of Napa Tasting.”
During the pandemic, Tor took the time to reflect on his career and experiences, writing a book called “Reflections of a Vintner,” now in its second printing.
Levity Corner
Caption contest: Pick your favorite caption or add your own in the comments below.
Possible captions:
"And then I said to the cat, 'Make my day.'"
"You don’t need to be big to cast a big shadow."
"History isn’t written by the big; it’s told by the bold."
"The sword is heavy, but so is my resolve."
"You can take my cheese, but you’ll never take my freedom!"
Last week’s contest results
In “Sunday E-dition: Isn't It Romantic? Inside Steve Sando's Kingdom of Beans,” the winning caption was, "This bean proves you don’t need a vineyard to thrive in Napa,” with 38% of the votes.
"Not your average Napa headliner."
"Breaking the mold, one pot of beans at a time."
"Who knew beans had such a ‘note-worthy’ talent?"
"This bean proves you don’t need a vineyard to thrive in Napa."
"Bean there, sung that!"
Last Week
In "The Light We Share: A Holiday Reflection," Tim Carl recounted a childhood memory of celebrating Hanukkah with a Jewish family in Napa Valley, exploring the beauty of shared traditions and unity across cultures. Through humorous and heartfelt anecdotes, Carl reflected on how these experiences expanded his understanding of community and belonging. He emphasized the enduring power of light and connection, drawing parallels between Hanukkah and Christmas as moments of hope amid uncertainty. Carl celebrated the shared humanity behind diverse holiday traditions, offering a message of love and togetherness for the season.
Glenda Winders, in "On New Year’s Resolutions," shared her lifelong commitment to crafting and fulfilling meaningful resolutions, reflecting on how they’ve shaped her routines and self-discipline. She recounted the origins of her journaling habit and its role in tracking both her daily life and annual goals. Inspired by a recent conversation, Winders resolved to seek "balance" in the coming year, incorporating both productivity and joy—such as piano practice—into her days. She concluded with a call to embrace kindness, inspired by a nurse’s simple, uplifting resolution.
In "A Year in Review: Napa Valley Features' Journey in 2024," Tim Carl reflected on the growth and impact of Napa Valley Features since its 2023 launch, including surpassing 4,500 subscribers and publishing over 300 stories in 2024. Carl highlighted new content initiatives, such as environmentally focused pieces, wine insights from Dan Berger and exclusive deep dives for paid subscribers. He emphasized reader engagement as a cornerstone of the platform’s success, celebrated community connections and previewed plans for 2025 to continue fostering thoughtful journalism and meaningful storytelling.
Dan Berger, in his article "What Is a Dry Wine?," examined the complexity surrounding the definition of dry wines, noting the increasing prevalence of residual sugars in wines traditionally marketed as dry. He discussed factors influencing the perception of sweetness, such as acidity, pH levels and additives like Mega Purple, which can alter a wine's taste profile. Berger highlighted the absence of a standardized definition for "dry" in the U.S., contrasting it with Germany's regulated use of terms like "trocken." He warned of potential regulatory and consumer challenges if the industry does not address these shifts transparently.
Tim Carl, in "How Political and Economic Perceptions May Impact the Napa Valley’s Wine Industry," analyzed how polarized political and economic outlooks influence consumer behavior and spending. He highlighted how optimism among Republicans contrasts sharply with Democrats' cautious economic outlook, affecting discretionary spending on luxury goods like wine. Carl discussed challenges Napa Valley faces, including competition from regions like Texas, which may appeal to value-driven, culturally aligned consumers. The article underscored the necessity for Napa's industries to closely track any shifting demographics and spending trends shaped by broader political and economic divisions.
In "Napa Valley's 2025 Astronomical Almanac," we highlighted celestial events that showcase Napa Valley’s pristine dark skies. Key moments include Venus at greatest eastern elongation on Jan. 10, Mars at opposition on Jan. 16, the Venus-Jupiter conjunction on Feb. 7, the Worm Moon total lunar eclipse on March 14 and the close approach of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks in April. The year also features breathtaking meteor showers like the Lyrids in April, the Eta Aquarids in May and the Perseids in August. This guide offers tips for observing and photographing these cosmic wonders, inviting readers to connect with the vast beauty of the universe.
Next Week
Next week we have more engaging articles from Napa Valley Features contributors. The UC Master Gardeners of Napa County will offer tips for “Green Wednesday,” while Dan Berger highlights his latest Napa Valley wine pick plus a two-part series on the current challenges in the wine industry in "Vinous Cataclysm." Tim Carl will examine free pest-control services available across Napa County, and Tony Poer will delve into Chimney Rock Winery’s focus on sauvignon gris, and we’ll hear again from Tor Kenward on the upcoming weather forecast. The team at Mentis will also share mental health strategies, with even more coverage included.
So glad your toe has mended and that you are back to writing your lovely column. I too have a broken toe story but don’t get plantar fasciitis as it is much worse! Good luck and happy new year.
I'm sorry to hear that Sasha couldn't get an appointment at Kaiser for three months. In their defense, I've been with Kaiser for almost 50 years now and I've always been able to get an appointment when I've needed one for an emergency-- sometimes a phone call from an MD, sometimes through the Advice Nurse, sometimes with whatever Dr. could squeeze me in to their schedule. I'm surprised and disappointed that this happened to her.