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mid week Farmer's Market.  OK.   

Before Covid,   when i first got here,  Emrie and I  would go.   She was little. We held hands and looked.   And then,  Covid and we didn't go.  And then last year when Brinley and her father moved in with Alyssia,  and  Jax came,  so many days a week,   i didn't have the wherewithall to  take all of them.   And really,   to tell the truth,  didn't want to.  I wanted it to be how it used to be.   Me and Emrie.  But.   it's not how it is.   

And so.   

Since it was going  to be a balmy 95 degrees,  we loaded up.   I don't know what all Alyssia told them,  but my speech,  while driving,   was that i didn't want to feel like i was herding chickens.   That i knew that THEY knew how to behave,  like 

walking,  not running.    quiet voice.   touch with your eyes,  not your hands.   polite.  notice where you ARE.   Look at where you ARE.   and i don't know what all else,   becase they are very verbal.   The drive there which is about 10 min  was  Brimming with conversation,   about  the above and then all manner of somehow vaguely  related threads

We  DID it.

Aside from the fruits and vegetables,  there are many tents of  "prettys".  i'll let you imagine that…and they all chose something at the end.   But they also talked with the vendors,  like the Blueberry Man about Blueberrys and how he loves them and how he had a potted Blueberry also for  sale.  and how we have Goats,  so blueberries are not practical  for us ….they asked him questions and had thoughts,   the young woman who had postcards and small prints of her ART….how if they wanted to,  they could get good at their Art and someday have a tent at a Farmer's Market and they told her all about their own Art work and Crafts …she listened…they EXCHANGED.   and the young woman doing massage on someone,  on her table,  face  down and we stopped and i told  them what she was doing and THEY talked,   about how instead of taking medicine and going to a doctor,  you can care for your body in a different way and be well…and i told  them that maybe they might want  to learn this????,  how to heal bodies….

and on and  in the end,   they voted for sno cones  instead of going to the icecream store,  2 to1   so  as you see in the pic…. was serendipitously the Tree island in the parking lot…of the Ginko….there's only one….

they TALK.    it's exhausting,   because they want and NEED  real and honest response.   and i miss those  easy days of just me and Emrie, slow and sweet,   but if i had asked  her

she would say that they want to come too.   All of Us.   She would say All of Us,  oldnana.  

 

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10 responses to “so. here we have it.”

  1. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    A day of such deep fullness…the wonderful asking and listening and sharing words. To me, this is one of the best experiences to have for our kids learn about their food and how people do what they do, live their lives. Engaging in such ways enriches…I miss those days with my grand kids.
    When they lived in San Francisco and I would spend part of the summer with them, (ages 3 to 6) we would get up early most Sundays and head out to the Sunset Farmer’s market, letting their parents sleep in. It was about 9 blocks from their apartment and we would walk and skip and sometimes, even do a little dance along the way. They each had their own ‘shopping bag” and a little $ so they could choose their special treat. The growers came from all over CA, no crafts, just foods. A favorite stop was the jam lady from Modesto who always had free samples on tiny pieces of sourdough bread- since this was San Francisco, of course it had to be sourdough bread!

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  2. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    I’ve come back because I spent some time, enlarging this photo, looking at these beautiful children and I think what a special day you have given them. To hear them talking away, no matter how tiring, is also to see them coming into their own and simply, that brought a lump to my throat, dear old Nana…

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  3. LaceLady Avatar
    LaceLady

    this and photos make me smile inside and out!

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  4. grace Forrest Avatar

    i am the one who learns. They are simply being
    them~Selves.

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  5. grace Forrest Avatar

    there were many smiles. Many.

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  6. Joanne in Maine Avatar
    Joanne in Maine

    do you ever go out with the older boy?

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  7. Nancy Avatar

    So poignant Grace. ❤️

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  8. grace Forrest Avatar

    Julian is his own person. Has his own ways. Particularly
    now…he’s 13. He spends much of the summer in New Jersey
    with his Father….where he is now.
    He doesn’t like being talked about. and yes. He and i
    have our Ways.

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  9. Saskia van Herwaarden Avatar

    wow, Emrie has grown! feels like I haven’t seen her properly in a long time….
    I know exactly what you mean wanting it to be like it was, it’s like when the boys come home with their girlfriends now, that’s nice too but different…so when they happened to be here together a few weeks ago, just the 2 boys and us: huge joy
    and yes, they are the teachers

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  10. Joanne in Maine Avatar
    Joanne in Maine

    I am familiar with the “not being talked about” as I have a son who is same.

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