A weekend out among people - and why I am always reminded how important it is and what one can learn
So some of you know that we have a teeny little business in that we go to a local farmers market and sell unusual (mostly heirloom) tomato plants and some peppers and eggplant each spring - we've been doing it for 15 years now (that first year they were in dixie cups and other vendors chuckled at us....but people love tomato plants - in dixie cups or not!).
Yesterday (Friday) and today were our market debuts. I pull up with my Obama sticker, "turn off Fox News" festooned truck and unload and people come, and we talk and they buy some plants. Since we've been doing this for 15 years, we've experienced new births, kids growing up, entering school, going to college, moving out or away. We have some customers who have been with us since the dixie cups, and new people who are curious and find us just on the browse, and others who watch my website and wait patiently (or impatiently) for us to appear. We've watched people become ill, then get well, then get really ill - and customers who have passed on. We've observed racism, and bigotry. It is like a microcosm, it is fascinating, exhausting, and rewarding.
People look at my truck and smile, or groan - we compare notes, we complain, we griped about Bush, we reveled in Obama's victory, we talk about the new redness of North Carolina. Those on the other side of the political fence may bluster, ask me why I think the way I do - some we've just said that we will agree to disagree.
But what is important is that there is common ground - that we are people, that we may share a hobby, that we may find out we like each other before we find out our politics are different - but the basis of friendship allows us to talk about it. It is the polar opposite of social networking - the faceless, impersonal Facebook and Twitter posts, when we can scream and holler at each other, swear at each other, when we don't even know anything about who we are doing it to and with - and whether it is real or just a made up persona.
So, once again, on a day when a few old friend popped up that I hadn't seen in years, on a day when two long time customers told me about their new battles with some serious illnesses, surrounded by flowers, and plants, and the smell of freshly picked strawberries, in a place packed with people of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes - we are reminded about how much value there is in turning off the TV, the laptop, disconnecting, and to engage with all kinds of people and have all kinds of conversations.
It was a great day that had laughs, and politics, and sadness, and joy. And I just felt like sharing it with you.
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Fabulous post - great end to an awful week
It is actually an indescribable week, and never forgotten.
... that is so true. We need to get out more. I have been ill recently, but need to get out to the flower garden and take some pictures tomorrow. Tulips and hyacinths are blooming, and my favorite, a large bed of blue Forget-Me-Nots, are in their full glory.
You should put this post on it. It's pablum for a very difficult week. Just a suggestion though - maybe it's not appropriate for a gardening/tomato blog. Very nice post though.
Even heirloom ones.
