O.D. Scene

THE ENTERTAINING SIDE OF OPTOMETRY

O.D. Scene creator, writer and editor Jack Schaeffer, O.D.

In the 2013 August, September and October issues of OM, I dedicated “O.D. Scene” to optometry’s “Rat Pack,” a group of optometrists who lecture at most major eyecare meetings, write articles for and are interviewed by most of the optometry journals, are on multiple advisory boards and involved in a slew of research projects. We research, teach, travel and enjoy life and our profession.

As a part of this illustrious group, I can tell that we’ve experience a lot together: Positive changes within the profession, meaningful conversation, fine wines, gourmet meals in some of the finest restaurants and, most recently, an earthquake that was 6.05 on the Richter Scale.

That’s right. Last month, some of the Rat Pack and their spouses, along with optometrist Jill Autry and her husband Stuart, decided to travel to Napa Valley, Calif. to experience a food and wine adventure. At 3:20 a.m. one of the days we were there, the hotel at which we were staying shook so violently, I was sure it was going to crumble. Thankfully, we all lived through it.

Here, I ask the earthquake survivors why they decided to take the trip, what they liked best about it and their thoughts both during and after the quake.

Key Opinion Leaders Weigh in…

Jill Autry, O.D., R.Ph, Marc Bloomenstein, O.D., F.A.A.O., Murray Fingeret, O.D., F.A.A.O., Ben Gaddie, O.D., F.A.A.O. and Kirk Smick, O.D.

Q: Why did you go on a trip with this group of doctors?

JA: When I first started speaking on a national level, I was intrigued by how close the group of lecturers seemed. Many were from various parts of the country, in all types of practice settings, yet it was like a reunion at every meeting. Having a chance to spend more time both professionally and personally with doctors who shape the past, present and future of our profession is an honor.

MB: There is always a great sense of camaraderie with the group. We can be serious about the state of our profession and yet confident with each other to disagree with a sense of joviality. However diverse we all are, we are still very similar.

MF: It is a great experience to spend time with your colleagues who are also friends. This group is often together in a professional environment, so it is a pleasure to get together socially without any optometry commitments.

BG: This is an annual tradition for this group of educators.

KS: Many of my best friends are members of this group. For more than 20 years, I have shared meals, wine and laughs with most of them. The very strength of optometry comes from the closeness of its leaders.

Dr. Schaeffer performing at Silver Oak Cellars.

Q: What was you favorite part of the Napa trip (excluding the quake)?

JA: I enjoyed the outdoor lunch and wine tasting at the Crocker & Starr vineyard. The table setting alone, much less the food and wine, resembled a magazine spread. To top it off, the owner and winemaker (aka Crocker & Starr) personally joined us at our tables.

MB: The best part for me is meeting the winery owners, growers and bottlers. They all seem so passionate about what they do. I think that is a common thread for the Rat Pack.

MF: Imagine a campus-like setting in which a series of buildings is set on open fields. Throw in a warm, sunny day, a series of wine tastings, and this describes Silver Oak Cellars.

BG: Watching Marc Bloomenstein shadow sign next to the wine steward at Paraduxx Wines.

KS: The meals we have shared and enjoyed are some of the best memories I will ever have.

Dr. Schaeffer with winery owners Charlie Crocker and Pam Starr.

Q: Which was your favorite wine and why?

JA: Silver Oak Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. I usually am not a fan of Cabernet, but I was very impressed by this wine.

MB: I personally cannot tell a Thunderbird from an Opus One. I attempted to do the Schaeffer wine swirl and ended with a lot of pucker.

MF: Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite. It is a rich wine, full in body but not bitter.

BG: Silver Oak Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s just a classic Napa Cabernet in every sense, and you can never go wrong with this legendary wine.

KS: Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 2011 was a truly amazing wine. I decanted a bottle for roughly 45 minutes and enjoyed it with a rare standing rib roast and cheese soufflé, and it was such a delight.

Cabernet Franc grapes at Crocker & Starr.

Q: What was your favorite vineyard and why?

JA: Croker & Starr for the reasons listed above.

MB: Crocker & Starr was that perfect mix of great people and an impressive winery. Eating lunch practically on the vineyard and meeting the owners was a highlight for me and my fiance Jill.

MF: Silver Oak Winery. The grounds are amazing.

BG: Paraduxx Wines. This is a brother vineyard to Duckhorn Vineyards, which makes probably the best merlot in California. I was impressed with the tasting depth and variety, as well as the overall experience.

KS: The Artesa Vineyards & Winery is spectacular. It’s set high into a hilltop with panoramic views of Napa Valley, San Francisco Bay and its own estate vineyards.

The Clos Pegase Winery.

Q: Which was your favorite restaurant or meal and why?

JA: Besides the lunch at Crocker & Starr, I really enjoyed the dinner at NapaStyle. It had a classic atmosphere inside one of my favorite stores. I will never look at another one of their catalogs again without remembering that night.

MB: I have to give the nod to Bottega Ristorante. The meal seemed to go on forever, and the flavors were rich and tasty.

MF: Lunch at Crocker & Starr was sensational. We were able to taste the different grapes, and get a sense of the different taste among the varieties.

BG: I liked the lunch at Crocker & Starr. We met the winemaker and the vineyard owner. The food, wine and setting were perfect for a beautiful afternoon.

KS: Two different lunches stand out to me. Lunch at Crocker & Starr was a really fun event when both the owner and winemaker appeared. I also enjoyed lunch at Domaine Chandon. Their sparkling wines are methode champenoise, and their still white wines are perfect for a sunny summer day.

Q: What was your first thought when the earthquake struck?

JA: I thought Stuart, my husband, fell out of bed.

MB: As a Californian, I’ve experienced at least a half-dozen earthquakes, but this one was more intense. My thoughts were really to be calm for Jill, my fiance, who was very frightened.

MF: As you know, I left on the red eye Saturday night, so I missed the quake. I had a vacation planned in Banff, Alberta, the following week, and I was afraid that if I left Sunday morning and there was a delay, I wouldn’t make it.

BG: “I’m going to die.”

KS: Expletive!

Q: What did you do during those seconds when the earth and building shook?

JA: My husband and I held onto each other to avoid being thrown out of the bed.

MB: I was running through mind the best place to be, and frankly I didn’t have a good thought, so we stayed in the bed, and I held Jill.

BG: I screamed, “What is happening?!” over and over until I came to my senses.

KS: I jumped out of bed, stepped on pieces of broken glass from the bedside lamp and limped to open the door of my third-floor room to look into the courtyard.

Silver Oak Vineyard Cellars post earthquake.

Q: Did you feel you were in danger?

JA: It happened so fast that I didn’t really perceive the danger until after the quake had stopped. I think that’s when it hit me.

MB: I really did not feel any sense of danger. Knowing the strict building codes for Northern California, I think I had a false sense of security. I also think that waking up at that moment didn’t allow us to truly grasp the danger that we could have been in.

BG: Absolutely, at least for 60 seconds or so.

KS: Heck, yes!

Q: What did you do immediately after the quake?

JA: I left the room and went into the courtyard of the hotel to meet up with the rest of the group.

MB: I surveyed the room, looked outside and hugged Jill for a little. Sensing it wasn’t that bad, we actually went back to sleep.

BG: We called a cab and headed straight for the airport with the Autrys. We were ready to be back in Kentucky to be sure!

KS: I took a chug from a bottle of Ketel One. All the glasses broke, but thankfully the bottle survived.

Embassy Suites Napa Valley Hotel room after the earthquake.

Q: Can you describe some of the damage you saw in your room and in the surrounding areas of the hotel?

JA: TVs were on the floor, water had sloshed out of the toilet, and the bathroom floor was soaked. Also, anything that was on the desk, nightstand or bathroom counter fell.

MB: One TV was ripped off the cable and on the ground, and all the bathroom toiletries were thrown on the floor, as well water from an ice bucket. The hotel was fortunate to only have some pots and light poles broken.

BG: TVs were smashed in the room, tables turned over, lamps were ripped off the wall, water appeared missing out of the swimming pool, and I saw cracks in foundation and stairwells.

KS: The TV fell off the wall and missed our bed by roughly two feet. Also, the ironing board flew across the room and hit the opposing wall, and all the drinking glasses were shattered, along with both bedside lamps.

Q: What are your thoughts today about the earthquake?

JA: It was a unique experience. Looking back on it, it doesn’t seem as scary now. That said, I am for sure not interested in living in California.

MB: The experience for me was just another reminder of the power of Mother Nature. The quake reminds me that anything can change in a moment’s notice, and we should appreciate each day. Also, I am hoping my Scottsdale, Ariz. home will someday be the beachfront property I have always wanted but couldn’t afford.

BG: It is fading in my daily thoughts, which is good! It was just a surreal event I am happy to have survived.

KS: Once is more than enough.

A home (left) and a store Dr. Bloomenstein walked by post-earthquake.

Q: Did the experience inspire you to think about doing something you always wanted to but were putting off? If so, what?

JA: No, I can’t say it was that impactful, but certainly made me think!

MB: Not really. What it has done is convinced me to keep being adventurous because anything can happen any time.

BG: No.

KS: Drinking more.