seagull season

i bought 

two small 

Jersey peaches 

at the 

west 97th street 

farmers market

yesterday morning.

they ripened by end of day.

for breakfast 

today,

i sliced one

into a favorite Astier dish

full of vanilla yogurt,

adding

a drizzle

of golden honey

from Lighthouse Keeper's,

a small batch 

food 

purveyor

discovered

while 

on Cape Cod

last July

to celebrate

my uncle's life

and remember my dad, too.

next, 

granola from Balthazar

scooped

from a bag

tied with 

signature cotton bolduc,

a convergence 

of worlds

in one little bowl,

the seagull 

postcard

on the butcher block

a souvenir 

from 

my mother's 90th birthday

last fall

where assorted favors

on the dining table

added 

a touch 

of 

needed whimsy.

she had admired 

the robin redbreast 

at a nearby shop,

it is a symbol 

of hope and happiness,

but there were not enough

to go around

so a colorful assortment

of various birds 

was made

and distributed 

to each sibling,

niece,

brother in law

and/or significant other,

to match personalities

and imagined preferences.

i gave the gull 

to myself 

as a secret 

reminder 

of the magical 

days of summer

and sandcastles

on Hardings Beach

built mostly 

by my father,

we kids

pressing perfect clam shells 

into the pyramids

with the palms 

of our suntanned hands,

decorating 

our shared masterpieces

with 

joy.

i am

only 

missing

the fresh mint

but 

will 

find some 

at 

Sunday's

market.

sweet

sweet

peach

sweet

sweet

summer.

#growmanhattan
#lighthousekeeperspantry
#terhuneorchards
#harmonybrookside
#johnderiancompany