I love roadside stands and all they stand for.
Yesterday, a man sat in front of a simple folding table under a vinyl tent, on a busy street corner in the liquor store parking lot. He had baskets of early peaches, green plums, and cucumbers.
What caught my eye, though, were the tomatoes: full of beautiful red summertime glory. I watched the old man take each tomato, cradle it in his hand, inspect it, and carefully polish it clean with a soft rag. He then gently placed each one in a small cardboard basket, stacking them carefully on top of one another.
It was beautiful to watch. Do I do anything anymore with that much care? Do I make the time to create something lovely?
I pulled into the lot, and we talked quite a while about life on the farm. Mr. Clarence was born in 1924 (yes, I asked!), and remembered walking behind a mule and a plow. He now has time to sell these vegetables in this little roadside stand. He sits in 90+ degree weather, patiently waiting for customers.
I thought about Mr. Clarence as I enjoyed my first tomato sandwich of the summer. I pray he sold all his vegetables, and pray for all of the roadside vendors who keep going, despite the big-box stores and chain supermarkets. Every year, the number of roadside stands seem to dwindle. We will have lost something very special in our landscape and community fabric if the roadside stand ever goes away.
Be well.
