Tomato Sandwich posted 6/15/2008 12:35:45 AM | 2 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: father, dad, love, gratitude, loss

EmmeS61

My Daddy always had a green thumb. We had over two acres of property with blackberry and raspberry bushes, asparagus and strawberry beds, apple and cherry trees. But Dad's garden was my favorite. It took up over a half an acre of the property.

I always helped Dad plow and plant. And Dad planted everything. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, peas, onions, carrots, peppers, herbs, radishes, lettuce of all varieties... you name it and the man could grow it. But above all, the tomatoes were my favorite thing that he grew. (If anyone has ever tasted a home grown, Jersey tomato, you would know why... there is nothing that compares)

Dad was SO proud of his tomato crop. He raised the plants from seeds in his little green house with all the care and devotion that he showed for his family. He chose the seeds carefully, waited to see how they grew, weeded through the seedlings, nurturing the best plants until they were ready to be planted outside. The race was always on between him, his brothers and friends to see who got the first red tomato before the fourth of July. (this is an accomplishment in Central New Jersey, weather does not always cooperate)

Dad and I would check the garden daily, watching for tomatoes to slowly turn from green to white to yellow to orange and then to red. Finally that day would come when the first tomato was ready to be picked, usually a big Beefsteak tomato, weighing a pound or better. We would bring the ripe tomato from the garden, call all of his brothers and friends to gloat because he ALWAYS had the first and then off to kitchen the tomato went. Dad would make us the best treat that summer in New Jersey has to offer. Two slices of Wonder bread, mayonnaise spread lightly on them both and a big, thick slice of that first garden tomato with a little salt and pepper between them. He would always cut the sandwich in half and we would share it, savoring each sweet, juicy bite as if it was the last one on earth.

My Daddy is now gone... he passed suddenly and peacefully 21 years ago. I haven't had a tomato sandwich since... it would never be the same. But every Father's Day it is one of my fondest memories of him. I can almost taste the flavors, the sweet acidity of the tomato still warm from the sun, the light, fluffy bread, the creamy mayonnaise, the tiny bite of the pepper and the pleasant saltiness. And as I taste that tomato sandwich in my mind, I can feel the care and devotion, the nurturing and tenderness and every ounce of love that came with it.

Thank you Dad, for showing me what it takes to help all things grow. Teaching me to nurture and love, in so many ways. How to care, how to share and above all, what the meaning of devotion is. I miss you and I love you.

Happy Father's Day... to all the Dads, all men who have acted as Dads and to the women who have been both Mother and Father to their children.

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