The Morning Lettuce

Up early on Saturday with Springsteen’s version of Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep running through my head. Such a holy opening must be followed up by something a little more prosaic, I think. Figure it’s 10:00am: Time to hit the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market. At this time of year, the Market smell is gorgeous. It’s the smell of fresh produce and it’s a scent that is nonexistent in the big “S” grocery stores1. The morning lettuce is always a joy, and at this time of year, the blueberries are especially loved and welcomed. Two baskets of blueberries for a measly eight bucks, a dozen peaches for six, a large basket of cherries for eight. I must say that the fruit people are all well-washed and are fine specimens of their respective genders. Don Antonio offers his usual warm greetings and I pick up a few tubs of his face-rippingly awesome salsa – undoubtedly the best available in the city. The tomato girl is glad to see me and offers a shopping bag for the several clutches of delicious vine-ripened reds that I have picked up.

Tomatoes with girl, Old Scona Farmer's Market July 2007

Offer accepted, young lass. After eating these tomatoes the grocery store versions seem miserable. During the lean winter months, when nary a vine-ripened red is available at the market, my household has taken to doing without tomatoes. They’re that good, and it makes their March return that much sweeter. And the carrots! Good Christ the carrots! Two pounds doesn’t seem like enough, but that’s all I can carry at this point.

Carrots and market patrons, Old Scona Farmers Market July 2007

Outside, the hot dog wrangler has just set up shop. Good timing, I think, because all this commerce has whipped up a fierce hunger in the gulliver. The guitar-playing guy is playing an instrumental medley. I recognize a few chords but he’s changing things too fast to keep up. Seems to be a fitting way to end my morning. I listen to him pluck as the bums drink beer in the shade.

Guitarist, Old Scona Farmers Market, July 2007

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1 Somehow, that fresh market smell reminds me of being pulled through the aisles of Safeway by my Mother many years ago…