Yesterday I tasted Summer

I wrote this last summer sitting in my Providence condo, watching the summer sun quickly turn to fall, without stopping. Summer doesn't last long in New England, you embrace every little piece of it you can.

Yesterday, I tasted summer. At last. It is August after all. In running late for work, I decided to make a protein shake for breakfast so I could “eat” in the car. I make my shakes with yogurt, protein powder, a little OJ and fruit. I had blueberries and a peach, excellent combination. My peach had a spot of mold on it. I cut the chunk of mold off, being careful not to cut too deep or too wide into the flesh, knowing the peach I enjoyed the day before from the same pile at the grocery store was delicious. The blueberries were perfect.

I roughly cut half of the peach into the blender, added the rest of the ingredients, pureed and poured it into my portable container then headed down the three flights of stairs to my car. The shake tasted mostly of sweet blueberries with a fleeting hint of peach. It was still delicious to drink because of the bright berry flavor mixed with the orange juice, the creaminess and slight tang of the Greek yogurt was just perceptible. The protein powder was, as always, undetectable. My breakfast over the steering wheel tasted like sweet sunshine.

When I returned home, I removed the other half of the peach from the fridge to let it come to temperature figuring it would be my dessert. After a complicated preparation of dinner (bowl, spoon, cereal box and skim milk), I sat down to one of my very favorite things to eat, having missed my daily dose of cereal at breakfast. My night carried on as usual and I was unaware that the best part of my day was yet to happen. Shortly before climbing into bed, I took my peach out the condensation covered Zip-Loc bag, grabbed a paper towel and dropped down on my couch for a quick snack before succumbing to slumber.

The fuzz on the bottom of the peach was soft on my finger tips as I brought the remaining half of the sunset red peach to my mouth. Being completely room temperature now I could smell the warm sweetness in the air and see the shimmering nectar glistening on the cut flesh. As my teeth sank into the fruit the flavors exploded into my mouth and dripped down my chin. It was juicy peach heaven. It tasted like a childhood summer; pure, all natural, no artificial flavors added summer. It was fresh cut grass, Slip ‘N’ Slides, bare feet and swimming pools. It was sunshine, picnic tables and my Grandpa laughing. It was pure delight. It was long overdue. In my opinion Rhode Island has an overabundance of winter and seems to be very much lacking summer, so I will take it in any way I can! Today, as I type this, it is 60° and raining. Time for another peach.