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Thursday, June 15, 2006

Strawberries

I’ve fallen in love this late spring with strawberries.

It happened three weeks ago when my friend Matt came over to watch a few episodes of Six Feet Under. I provided chilled white wine while he toted over some dark chocolate and fresh, organic strawberries.

The color was immediately striking. Of course this isn’t the first season that I’ve partaken in the fruit, but I don’t remember strawberries being quite so red before, with such green tops and perfect seeds. Maybe I’ve never really looked before. Isn’t that the way it normally is, with most things?

And then the taste. I swooned. “They’re strawberries in early June,” Matt said.

Oh, I know. But are they somehow different in 2006? So sweet with such a slight tang that sweetly tempers the sweet. Such wonderful gradations of red and white and green that had nothing to do with me or any other person. They simply are.

Oh, you know… or maybe you don’t. It’s been a season of change for me, as seems to be the norm for spring. New job, new apartment, ups and downs with the boyfriend, a constant nag in my conscience that I should move home to be near my ailing grandparents, a balancing act of commitments and renewal and assuring everyone and myself that it will all be okay. No need to panic cause we’re all in this together.

And then these strawberries. Simple. Beautiful. Something to savor because you know this bull market won’t last forever, which means we must enjoy feverishly and totally and then we must remember it all until next season.

Posted by Aaron on June 15, 2006 10:28 AM

Comments:

> different in 2006?

If you're speaking literally of the flavor, it depends on where they were grown and the type of weather. Drier weather tends to yield sweeter, tastier fruit, and different regions will mature at different dates.

Travis
June 15, 2006 4:42 PM

you're alive! (and eating damn fine strawberries it sounds like)

jeremyj
June 16, 2006 1:42 AM

Welcome back.

The strawberries were fun, but their side effects were less exciting.

Matt
June 16, 2006 5:44 PM

Great to read your descriptive writing again. Driscoll's should thank you for another package of strawberries they just sold. Found your "old" office in Chicago..nice building!

JJC
June 18, 2006 6:28 PM

Thank heavens your back. I was starting to get Aaron withdrawls.

Damion
June 19, 2006 2:19 PM

As far as objects of affection are concerned, strawberries are right up there. Have you tried mangoes, though?

Good to see you back, Aaron. Change can be unsettling, but so exciting as well. I hope the excitement is a big part of the experience for you.

Family clearly means a great deal to you (which is wonderful) and I suspect the feeling that nags you to move closer to them will always be around...

Sorry I couldn't see you in MSP this weekend, but glad to see life is moving along.

Haris
June 19, 2006 4:38 PM

Missed ya! Glad you're back A! ;)

Betty (Greg)
June 20, 2006 11:04 PM