Summer has Officially Arrived

It's so hot in South Georgia that walking outside takes your breath away. The humidity just wraps you up like a blanket, and makes it look like you just stepped out of the shower, it drenches you so quickly.

So, that's the worst things about the summer that I have to complain about so far. I haven't seen any snakes - YET! Well, other than the one that was on the road after becoming roadkill - but none threatening to move me off my property, or anything like that. My little lot of land is not big enough for me and a snake to dwell in unity upon! I hate a snake worse than anything.

Along with the arrival of extremely unbearable hot weather, there are a few things I happen to love about the summer. Namely my garden fresh tomatoes. And fresh corn off the stalk, squash, Vidalia onions........and the list goes on and on......

The other day I took the advice of a friend and visited a roadside fresh produce stand a few miles from my house. It was probably one of the highlights of my summer thus far.

I drove up close to the stand and got out to be heartily greeted by a big burly fella about 3 times my size. He had a smile that lit his sun burnt face up. His smile revealed a mouth full of crooked teeth that were very eye catching. I kinda chuckled inwardly - he was just happy to be there! He had on a bright yellow shirt and big denim overalls and had his hands tucked under the bibs like old farmers do.

As I observed each piece of produce carefully, he would inject every few minutes to make sure I looked at it good because he wanted me to "take only the very best home" with me. So, that's exactly what I did. I ended up getting a bag of squash at $1 / lb, a basket of huge fresh tomatoes, and 6 ears of fresh sweet corn (still in the husks) - all for $5.00......

Even if I could get that good of prices in the local grocery store or Wal-Mart, the interaction with the sweaty owner made it worth whatever extra I had to pay.....Luckily I got if for cheaper and got to support a local "little man" (although he was a big man) of America and enjoy his friendliness. I long for life to once again be made up of these types of encounters. Unfortunately, we get so caught up in our little "worlds" that we forget just how wonderful that interaction can actually be. We just want to go do what needs to be done and get on with life. Forgetting that life is made up of these little special moments.

I walked away feeling like I owned the world. I had the sweet feeling that country summers past had come back to life. It was one of those great moments in time for me. I could see, in my mind's eye, all the farmers I've known in my life as they passed on some of their treasures from their gardens and the sense of pride they felt to know that was the result of their hard work and that we were going to enjoy every moment of eating it.

I remembered all over again why I'm willing to tolerate the heat of the summer months here - to get the rewards of the wonderful "fruit" that is the result of that blazing, blistering sun. So, as soon as all that I got that day from the friendly giant in the overalls is gone, I'll be headed right back for more. And more than I'm concerned about the produce he sells, I'm kinda looking forward to seeing him smile again and carry on in his boistrous kind of way!