Southern women grow tomatoes. It's what they do. Whether they like them or not, tradition dictates that they don a floppy hat and dig in the dirt. I have failed at my duty to produce any red, ripe delicious tomatoes. This year will be different! My plan began with eyeballing a spot on the pool deck and deciding exactly where one fancy plant would grow under my careful watch. It would be protected from the woodland creatures that eat everything in our real garden and would be close enough to the water hose to allow me to keep it hydrated and happy. My husband watched as I planted my single tomato plant and questioned what I was doing. "We have a full garden of tomato plants," he reminded me. The problem is the fact that he is an overzealous gardener and when the first sign of a beefy boy tomato shows, he picks it while green and delivers miniature tomatoes to my kitchen. I simply want one fully developed, red, ripe tomato. "I'm suppose to grow tomato
Joey, Allie... This is for you. May these stories be like tiny feathers that will one day drift down out of nowhere, bringing back great memories and smiles. You have brought me true joy with your laughter and song. This is your roadmap back to your youth and my guide home when memories fade. What a blessing it has been! What a blessing it continues to be.