WATERMELON DAYS

Dearest Joe we share memory ... my Nana and Par had a dairy farm and grew various vegetables watermelon is in season here now ... and she used to do the same thing except we would sit on the verandah and swing our legs and usually get watermelon all over us ... god I had forgotten till you wrote this ... I was eight when they left the farm and forgotten till just now ... thankyou again love and big hugs your Jayne x x

First I loved the title and then I realised I would love it all, this is especially loveable anyway isn't it everybody, the caress of a Grandmother is such a particular thing, as children we remember that, maybe Grandma herself although putting all her love into the touch, didn't realise its impact on the little heads so touched; but i think she knew don't you? Your relationship with your Grandmother was a specially close one wasn't it? Italians have always loved watermelons, there they were on the side of the street, stalls with continuous running water on those magical pink melon slices, fresh and cool in the heat of the Italian sun. Dear Longobardolino Annuccia

WHAT a most magic and wonderful name, good enough for a fairlytale and with your devotion to her she is surely aware of your poetry too, I am sure of that, what sensitivity and love you have you Italians. Your Annuccia Of course you are special, but rare for me, you say, I am not so sure this is a rare trait, understanding in this way, its just sad that you didn't meet many who were so in your life, I think there are many here who have such understanding, I feel sure of it. And your sensitivity to it gives us such powerul feelings of love too, you sense that don't you? We see in you, the creator of that magic that makes the world what it is when at its best. Dearest Longobadrdolino. But thank you for your kind words. Annuccia

Life is strange. I have no youthful grandparent memories. I met my fathers' mom when I was 20. She hated America and left within a month rather than the 3 per visa. I love watermelon. The story I am left with is that my father's only sibling, a sister died after eating watermelon; (that may or may not have had anything to do with her actual death--as the story goes she drank too much water afterwards.) I am, however, careful not to drink more than a gallon of water after my watermelon indulgences--although by rights, I should have watermelon-fear. ;-) Love to all lovers of cherished memories... ~A Don’t let your victories go to your head, or your failures go to your heart.

Water melons have more flavinoler,( is it(?) or anyway something good for rejuvenating old cells, like mine in an old body!!) than strawberries and strawberries have a lot too. So we oldies should eat lots of water melon. I have had food poisoning from melons twice and felt as if I was going to die, once on a camp site, a horrible place to feel close to death. I am not sure if it was some uncleanness on behalf of the vendor, but now I always scrub my melons with soap and water before I cut them in two, to make quite sure nothing foreign is hiding on their skins. I called the complaint Melancholia, saying that I suffered from Melancholia. :) So my melon history is one that gives me mixed feelings!!! A Cantaloupe melon with Italian salami, French stone-ground rye bread, slightly toasted with a rubbing of fresh garlic and a dose of virgin olive oil, num num! When we celebrated Christmas in the manner of different countries as we used to for a while( dressing up in their style of clothing and using recipes from those countries, decorating the room in the correct style too and listening to the right music), when we did the Italian Christmas we used melon with Parma ham in that way too, as this is an Italian custom; that was our hors d'oeuvre. One of the men was a Mafia member(costumed-white suit Black hat etc.) I was a classy lady in long velvet green dress etc. We had no end of fun preparing weeks before visiting embassies and finding out what to do, what dishes to prepare etc. Versägod spis, welcome eat like à table mes enfants or ? Love Annuccia