This Hurt My Heart | Main | Realization
July 6, 2005
Grow Me a Garden
This weekend, I bought a cantaloupe for the first time in years. It was perfectly ripe and when I cut it open, the fresh, sweet, almost candy-like smell immediately took me back to my childhood.
Throughout all of my years on Long Island, we had a garden. The season would begin with string beans and snap peas, then tomatoes and cantaloupe, lettuce and sometimes some herbs. My summer memories are filled with the taste and smell of fresh produce-- the basil on my mother's hands, the sweet tang of a just-off-the-vine tomato, the slight bit of grit left on the string bean, just picked.
And finally, the distinct scent of cantaloupe, one of too many that would spring forth from sprawling ground vines, sending both parents to the back yard each morning to retrieve one or four extras from the overabundance, to take to work or foist upon a polite neighbor. I took the cantaloupes for granted-- after all, eating them every morning and for dessert got old pretty fast for everyone but the cat (who loved cantaloupe). Once I moved away, I nearly forgot about how good they tasted.
That is, until this weekend when I came upon one at the market. I lifted it to my nose, sniffed the rind for ripeness, and took it home; it made me miss my hometown fiercely. It also made me want a garden.
Yes, I really wish that I could have a garden.
Posted by callalillie at July 6, 2005 7:15 AM | City Life , Food
I agree. I think we should add this to our list of "desirables" for the the future Robie-Trancho urban compound and home for lazy (and somewhat large) cats.
Posted by: Alexis at July 6, 2005 8:16 AM
Shouldn't that be the Robie-Trancho urban compound and home for three lazy and one large cat? Or does Olga count as several cats?
Posted by: corie at July 6, 2005 9:17 AM
without a doubt, the cantaloupe we grew in that garden were the best i've ever eaten. ripened on the vine and pick moments before we opened them up, they were the sweetest melons in the world.
who knows, maybe the new house will give rise to a garden?
Posted by: bobtrancho at July 6, 2005 9:20 AM
Just don't forget to put on your parking brake before running to the new garden to get a melon. I seem to remember a car flying down the driveway and hitting a tree as a result of that.
Posted by: corie at July 6, 2005 9:21 AM
Gahh.. when I first saw that photo, I thought: cat mouth. Glad it's not.
Posted by: beth at July 6, 2005 10:44 AM
You can just see and taste the sweet, healthy energy in your picture of the cantaloupe, my favorite fruit.
Posted by: Petrie at July 6, 2005 11:18 AM
my eyes first saw this as saying "this weekend i bought a cartiledge (sp)", and that is what i first saw with the picture.
i was worried about you for a minute! but cantaloupe, cantaloupe is good.
Posted by: nicole at July 6, 2005 1:44 PM
Be warned - I have known cats that love cantaloupe and will raid gardens. True story.
Posted by: jane at July 6, 2005 2:26 PM
Wow, that looks like a scene from an Anime movie.
Posted by: ccs178 (Chris) at July 6, 2005 2:47 PM
I know-- those dangly things are weird. I'm always happy to scoop them out.
Posted by: corie at July 6, 2005 3:18 PM
May you have many cantaloupes and many cats in your garden. Perhaps you should grow a few extra for the cantaloupe eating felines. I understand Irving has developed a taste for them. For me just-off-the-vine cantaloupe = summer. Luscious!
Posted by: Vickie at July 6, 2005 3:53 PM
Never been a melon guy. That picture confirms it
www.forgotten-ny.com
Posted by: Kevin Walsh at July 6, 2005 11:03 PM
Well, yeah. It is kind of War of the Worlds alienish. I haven't seen the movie yet. After 9-11 and all that's happened today I don't much want to see our world torn apart by aliens. It's tough to just watch the news.
Posted by: Vickie at July 7, 2005 3:58 PM
Posted by: Liz at July 8, 2005 11:42 AM
