THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MARKET....

Sitting on my front porch swing, sipping bottomless Arnold Palmers and thumbing through recipes. Not just any recipes but recipes of my Mom's, my two Grandmothers and various people growing up. As I see the name on top of each card; rubbing my fingers over the writing as if I am touching my Grandmother's who have past away. Reading over my Mother's brings tears to my eyes as thoughts and emotion floods my being. As I gaze at them I am remembering the way she used to be before she became ill. Most of all I radiate that unmistakeable way she always made me feel. I am startled back to reality as the expected daily Thunderstorm quakes me to my bones. I spent the morning at our Market Downtown. It is like Christmas time to me. Except it is grueling hot. There is a band playing music, I was not particularly fond of their selection today, but all the while it was entertaining as it set the magestic market tone. I sipped on cold brew coffee which was a breath of cool air as it was served to me over ice and I hadn't yet had my cup of coffee. Now here I am in my own City, it is Home and familiar; yet, it was magical. Everyone was lovely. I had some fascinating conversations as we would walk or wait in line to make our purchases. I found myself envious as in speaking with several who live right there and how they walked with their morning coffee with their spouse or beloved and others spoke of riding on their bikes because they did not live far. I smiled as I imagined how picturesque that couple must have looked as they peddled home with her beautiful fresh cut bouquet of flowers and gushed about getting into the kitchen with their new purchase to fix for lunch. 

I liken this to Christmas because everyone was smiling and there was that something in the air that made this morning just a little more special. I jot down on blank cards suggestions and recipes that were shared with me before they flew out of my mind completely. I went to one tent where I asked if this was Silver Queen Corn, I was delighted when she said yes. Later I found myself at another produce area and I commented on how much I loved silver queen corn and this voice from very high up and very deep bellowed out "silver king." I giggled as his voice and presence surprised me and thought how chauvinistic that was of him to call it king instead of queen. I told myself okay I will bite as I looked up towards the Heavens and tilted my head with the puzzled look on my face as I said questioningly "silver king?" Both the lady working and my very tall deep spoken man both chuckled in a harmonious unison. Just as if a dam had burst, they just could not contain their enthusiaism as they educated me on the difference and hybrid variables. It was if it were Christmas Eve and they were gushing about this wonderful gift they just purchased or received; as if I too needed it for that special person on my list. Or most importantly, myself! I attested I too would love to purchase this silver king corn and I would have a test tasting at my table to see if our palates would be able to discern a noticable difference. We all laughed and shared favorite ways to prepare it and my nameless new friend with that lovely southern draw that reminded me of a Grandfather hugged me as he left. 

I love when I travel to indulge in losing myself with their culture, their normalcy. Therefore, it becomes something so much more meaningful than just a place I walked through. My girlfriend just traveled to Venice and purchased these fabulous egg cups that I have from my travels there. They are all different as if pieces of art to showcase your transformed black tie egg. I am confident it was not just because of the works of art themselves but the words that swirled off my tongue from the depths of my core of my experience with that city when I got "lost" wandering around in and out. Drinking in all that was eager to pierce my very soul as I sipped on espresso. I shared with her my experience with the Shopkeeper and our visit and how he and his partner emailed me for quite some time of pieces that they thought that I would find interesting. The Wonderment of Life is that at every given moment, there are treasures awaiting your uncovering. I smile thinking of my morning, my new found treasures; liken to, as the older woman I walked in to Market with was so excited to be there and babbling of what all she was hoping to gather. Then when I was walking back from my car to go back in to gleen and be inspired, another elderly woman was pushing her overflowing cart of goodies smiling with such intensity it is as if magically turned the corners of my mouth to either side of my face as I told her she had found some goodies. She stopped and took my hand and said with unmistaken enthusiasm, full of joy as she was beside herself with so much pride of all she was taking Home to prepare and share with her Family. Her eyes glimmered and  danced as she spoke, as if she was a lighthouse on a dark, foggy night bringing you Home.  I wholeheartedly meant it when I said I only wished I was going Home with her too.

I was at the Orthopedic Doctor with my Daughter while sitting in one of the waiting rooms, an older man sat next to my Daughter. We struck up conversation, when we asked him why was he in there he said he had climbed telephone poles for his whole life. Bad knees now. We chatted about his life and Family for a while. When I asked him about his Bride he said she had past away, two years ago on his Birthday. His words pierced my very soul and tears flooded my eyes. I recently attended a beautiful special wedding out of town. At the reception an older gentleman came across my path. He was hunched over walking with a cane. I spoke to him and he asked about where to place his gift. I quickly took it from him and assured him I would put it with the others and as I was going for the handle to open up the door, I coyly asked him if he was ready for what was in store! It was a very entertaining band he was bound to enjoy. Later on, I go back to our table and who in this world would you imagine was seated there all alone? My new friend. I leaned down and asked if I could get him something more to eat because his plate was almost empty. His arm wrapped around the back of my head as he drew me close to speak into my ear of what he wanted. I then went and got him some cake as I squatted down next to him I asked him who he was there for. He was friends with the Bride's family. So off I was moving to the tunes of the showstopping band and found the Father of the Bride I showed him this picture and asked if he knew him. 

He was amazed and pointed to the Grandmother of the Bride and I dashed over to show her the picture. She excitedly told her girlfriend to come at once and took her hand and we chatted as we made our way across the room and brought them together. We took another picture of them and then he asked for one with these girls and me. I was standing behind him with my girlfriend and we both were moved without words to convey as we watched him pull up our picture on his cell phone. He told us he was to turn 93 on that following Monday. Rest assured I thought of him throughout that day as if he was someone I had known forever and yet I had only just met. I shared Home with him even out of state for it is in my Heart and Soul and Printed on my Bones. Later one of my girlfriends husband helped him to his car and learned he had just had back surgery thus the cane.  So, as you go forward with your weekend and next week, for you in the United States reading this will be celebrating Independance Day. May we bind our Heart upon our sleeve and bear our freedom boldly as we declare Home is where the Heart is. It is with us everywhere we go. This singer blows me away, they are donating all profits from the song to Charities all around New York  that has changed his life. As this singer was quoted, "Being able to carry my home, my city, my roots with me everywhere I go is so important in Life." May we all dust off our Welcome Mat and leave the Front Porch light on. This is the Wonderment of Life. xo