The Meaning Of The Peach
by Jeffery Parham
I went to a farmers market today, down by the water. A beautiful day,
and I was hunting some fruit and vegetables. I bought this beautiful,
huge peach and left hopeful, and hungry at the thought of this lavish,
fresh, succulent piece of heaven. *A fresh peach, it brought back
memories of when I was about 6 years old, when we had several fruit
trees in the backyard. Us kids used to gorge ourselves on the peaches,
plums, apricots, and oranges. My mom made jams and pies. Um, this
beautiful peach I couldn't wait, even to get it back and wash it. I
just figured, well, a few tree germs, I can handle. A good healthy
peach, with all the fuzz. Fresh fuzz. Natural fuzz. I turned the peach
over and over in my hands. I rubbed my fingers over the peach, feeling
the fuzz, trying to rub it off. Thinking of youth, playing, fresh
fruit, cobblers, jams, fresh bread.
I bit into the peach.
It was the perfect peach, *until I tasted it. I really enjoyed
contemplating the peach much more than the actual taste, flavor and
texture of the peach itself. In a way, I regret eating the peach. It
wasn't very sweet. It was ripe but didn't have a particularly strong
peachy flavor, and yet, for all its lack of vitamins, and nutritious
wholesomeness, it was one of the best peach experiences of my life.*I'm
sure there is a lesson in here somewhere. Maybe it is the gift of the
memories of youth, perhaps it is a gift letting me know that small
things in life can instill a sense of happiness, perhaps the gift is a
sign for hope for the future, or the satisfaction in being able to look
with wonder and joy at past experiences in my life. Maybe this is one
of the "you can't judge a book (or fruit) by its cover (or color),
lesson. Perhaps the peach was just a peach. *Regardless of the
nutritional state of my perfect peach, I am content in the experience,
and know that today; I experience every minute of my life with
satisfaction. Even if the peach wasn*t worthy, I know that I am. I hope
you find your own peach today
