Tomatoes

While trying to figure out what I want to do with the next chapter of my life, my daughter suggested that I write a blog, so here I am.  We all have our book of life stories to tell.  I hope you like mine.  My life like every one's has had its ups and downs, but I wouldn't have changed any of it.  Through the good, the bad and the ugly, I feel it has made me the woman I am today.  

There is so much about me that has changed.  I feel so much more open and alive.  I appreciate every day, and love every new adventure and experience.  I feel so very blessed, and a strange excitement about life that is different.  There is a confidence about me I have never felt before. I hope you can follow my analogies and sometimes my subliminal messages.            

When my kidlings came to town for three weeks, they went to the Hair Salon with me.  While we were there, we met and chatted with a nice YOUNG man, who had an adorable dog.  Before he left, he said he wanted to take me to dinner. I had to look around to see who he was talking to. I was shocked, and the first thing that came out of my mouth was, I'm married.  He said that's o.k., bring your husband.  I have no words.  Anyway, I gave him my number and my e-mail address. 

To make a long story short, he texted me, and we met yesterday for lunch.  It was a two and a half hour lunch.  We shared three dishes, and we each got a Berger cookie sundae with two huge scoops of ice-cream and a selection of berries. Don't worry, I had them hold the whipped cream. 

It was so special to hear the amazing life story of this kind stranger.  We talked about everything, including the fact that his favorite tomato was an heirloom.  When the check came, he would not let me pay.  He said, "I invited you!"  Again, I have no words.  We said goodbye, and when I got home there was a text thanking me, for having lunch with him!  Out of all of the beautiful YOUNG (there's that word again) girls in the world, he chose me.  How special to get a break from all the hate and division in the world.  How nice to spend a moment, just one moment in time with a stranger, enjoying a special conversation.

I started thinking about tomatoes after our lunch.  First let me say, when I was a child, there was nothing better then a tomato sandwich.  Very fresh white bread, lots of Kraft mayonnaise, and sliced ripe, sweet tomatoes.  Heaven!  Tomatoes are a lot like people.  There is nothing better then a big, ripe, juicy, sweet, succulent, full-bodied (oh, sorry, that's wine, got carried away) tomato.  But sometimes tomatoes can be deceiving, like people.  They can look so good on the outside, but once you take a bite they can be mushy, or even rotten.  I discard the rotten ones.  But when you find that special tomato, there is nothing like it.  Make sure you enjoy that tomato, because really good tomatoes are rare, hard to find, and oh so flavorful!