Finding ways to 'chin up'

摘要

RECENTLY, I INTRODUCED MY CHILDREN TO "CHARLOTTE'S Web." Heroine Charlotte A. Cavatica makes her grand appearance when she sings to Wilbur, "Chin up, chin up, put a little laughter in your eyes, brave it, save it, even though you're feeling otherwise, rise up, wise up, make a little smile begin, you'll be happy-hearted, once you get it started, up with your chinny-chin-chin." As my family watched this classic 1973 film, the words in the song made me think of how many of us could use a reason (or many) to "chin up" as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to weigh heavy on us. With so much difficult news to digest, it can be hard to find something to inspire a smile. However, the response from the spirits community not only got my chin up, but continues to amaze me each passing day. Starting in mid- to late-March, my inbox started to fill up with news of distillers stepping up to manufacture hand sanitizer in response to the nationwide shortage. Distillers of all sizes have heeded the call, thanks to guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO). Exemptions and authorizations granted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) also have enabled many spirits-makers to manufacture ethanol-based hand sanitizer.