~in everything, even pandemics, give thanks~
My folks got married in the summer of 1940 when my father was only 17 and my mother was not that much older at 19. They ran away to the courthouse in Wichita, Kansas during the early morning hours of July 31st with a signed permission slip from my Grandma Scott that gave consent for her underage son to marry. They had little money between them after my father paid for their license, so at noontime upon legally becoming "husband and wife", they put their 15 cents into the soda pop machine and split a bottle of strawberry pop between them. Then it was time to go back home and face the music, as both had to admit to her parents what they had done.
It all came out in the wash as they say.
They were so young and in love.
Oh, and one other thing.
They were so poor.
My folks lived in an apartment above one of the stores on Main Street in Newton, Kansas for those first three years. During that short span of time, their first two children (both girls) were born 14 months apart. Times were very tight with Mom staying home to keep house and children while my father took jobs working for local farmers in the area. Once I asked my mom how on earth they made it through the first few years with so little income and certainly no prior experience of being on their own. Mom smiled when she told me the secret to their survival.
Fast forward eighty years down the road into the future.
In the very early days of the arrival of the virus, in particular the week of our spring break which actually marked the end of school as we knew it, I began to become anxious about the food supply. I really had no reason to be worried because at the time our pantry was full enough to get Mike and I by for a couple of weeks. But I thought about the future, that being the summer, and realized it would be a good idea to start growing as much food for ourselves as possible. One of the things I did was to buy 3 tomato plants from the local market, ones that I treated as if they worth a million dollars to me. I set them on the kitchen windowsill and waited for the weather to become warm enough to plant them.
About a month ago we put them into the soil, right underneath the kitchen window. I hoped they would take off and somehow make it. I realized of course with only 3 tomato plants, it would not be like we could feed the entire town, but at least we could have some to enjoy. Mike is not a big fan of the raw ones, but I love them especially doused with a little salt and pepper. I can make a meal out of them.
Since mid March we have been in the throes of the pandemic. So much has happened in time which seems to me as if it has stood stock still. I finished up the last quarter of the school year of continuous learning with my students, retired from teaching, and spent a whole lot of time reflecting upon my life. We have stayed so busy here at home because remaining busy helps the time to go a little smoother, quicker if you will. Every day that we endure the presence of the virus in our world is hopefully a day that puts us closer to a vaccine or at least the medicines to fight it.
Last night as I was closing the window blinds in the spare bedroom, I happened to look out at the tomato plants which were standing tall in their appointed spot of the yard. The recent rains have been good for them and I've noticed in days past their tiny yellow blossoms coming forth. I had to look twice because something looked strange with the one closest to the edge. I grabbed my glasses to take a closer look. There to my surprise, I saw it!
No bigger than a jumbo size marble, it was the first tomato of the season. I actually rejoiced as I saw it there, a sign of hope that maybe things like a pandemic could be tolerable and even survivable.
You know, there is food aplenty here for us and our cupboards are full. I have never gone hungry a day in my life and Mike says that he won't let us go without something to eat in the future. Even though we have gone through tight times just like my folks did now 80 years ago, Mike and I are very blessed. All we have to do is to look around us to see that we live in the land of plenty. There are so many others who do not have this good fortune and we are keenly aware of it.
Funny how the first tomato of the season can change the way you look at things.
In everything we give thanks.
It all came out in the wash as they say.
They were so young and in love.
Oh, and one other thing.
They were so poor.
My folks lived in an apartment above one of the stores on Main Street in Newton, Kansas for those first three years. During that short span of time, their first two children (both girls) were born 14 months apart. Times were very tight with Mom staying home to keep house and children while my father took jobs working for local farmers in the area. Once I asked my mom how on earth they made it through the first few years with so little income and certainly no prior experience of being on their own. Mom smiled when she told me the secret to their survival.
"Peggy Ann, we ate a lot of canned tomatoes!"That was it. Canned tomatoes kept them going and surely must have boosted their levels of Vitamin C on a daily basis. My mom knew how to garden and certainly how to preserve the bounty that came from it. Although I am positive there had to have been certain other fare that graced the evening supper table, most surely there was a variety of dishes that had tomatoes in them. I grew up eating stewed tomatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, breaded tomatoes, and fried green tomatoes. I never once grew tired of them.
Fast forward eighty years down the road into the future.
In the very early days of the arrival of the virus, in particular the week of our spring break which actually marked the end of school as we knew it, I began to become anxious about the food supply. I really had no reason to be worried because at the time our pantry was full enough to get Mike and I by for a couple of weeks. But I thought about the future, that being the summer, and realized it would be a good idea to start growing as much food for ourselves as possible. One of the things I did was to buy 3 tomato plants from the local market, ones that I treated as if they worth a million dollars to me. I set them on the kitchen windowsill and waited for the weather to become warm enough to plant them.
About a month ago we put them into the soil, right underneath the kitchen window. I hoped they would take off and somehow make it. I realized of course with only 3 tomato plants, it would not be like we could feed the entire town, but at least we could have some to enjoy. Mike is not a big fan of the raw ones, but I love them especially doused with a little salt and pepper. I can make a meal out of them.
Since mid March we have been in the throes of the pandemic. So much has happened in time which seems to me as if it has stood stock still. I finished up the last quarter of the school year of continuous learning with my students, retired from teaching, and spent a whole lot of time reflecting upon my life. We have stayed so busy here at home because remaining busy helps the time to go a little smoother, quicker if you will. Every day that we endure the presence of the virus in our world is hopefully a day that puts us closer to a vaccine or at least the medicines to fight it.
Last night as I was closing the window blinds in the spare bedroom, I happened to look out at the tomato plants which were standing tall in their appointed spot of the yard. The recent rains have been good for them and I've noticed in days past their tiny yellow blossoms coming forth. I had to look twice because something looked strange with the one closest to the edge. I grabbed my glasses to take a closer look. There to my surprise, I saw it!
No bigger than a jumbo size marble, it was the first tomato of the season. I actually rejoiced as I saw it there, a sign of hope that maybe things like a pandemic could be tolerable and even survivable.
You know, there is food aplenty here for us and our cupboards are full. I have never gone hungry a day in my life and Mike says that he won't let us go without something to eat in the future. Even though we have gone through tight times just like my folks did now 80 years ago, Mike and I are very blessed. All we have to do is to look around us to see that we live in the land of plenty. There are so many others who do not have this good fortune and we are keenly aware of it.
Funny how the first tomato of the season can change the way you look at things.
In everything we give thanks.
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