Summer Fruit
I had forgotten how intense training a puppy can be. That sneaky little Rosie can soil the floor in two seconds if you aren’t paying attention. After a couple initial days of frustration, Lori and I locked into a better operating mode that significantly reduced the number of of “oopsies.” But there is a Rosie Tax - everything that we do right now requires extra energy as we ponder this little poop/pee grenade that can explode at any moment. This sincere focus is how we bond with the dog. I’m not sure the bonding mechanism was ever this clear before.
I recently enjoyed the best nectarine of the year - perfectly sweet and juicy. All the stone fruit are at their peak right now. Tomatoes, too. My friend John is making his annual run up toward Lake Erie to buy Red Haven peaches next week, and is kind enough to pick some up for us. When they arrive I try to drop everything and start baking pies, or at least prep and freeze them for later dessert-making. They’re that good.
In this time of summer bounty, I’m reminded of how fruits are often at their peak just before going bad. This is true for certain other foods, too. But it’s this time of summer when the pattern is most apparent.
Human life might follow a similar arc, at least for some of us. Improving a little each day until life gets really sweet, and then some major health function fails, taking us out. If I could choose, I would choose this pattern for my finite life. So far, so good. Dr. Peter Attia differentiates between “health span” and “life span.” The goal is to enjoy really high function and robustness through most of our life, followed by a brief but definitive loss of function. Perhaps this is where the phrase “ripe old age” comes from - living until we achieve peak sweetness, then quickly devolving to the point where we’re ready for the compost heap. If our decline is the last portion on the Circle of Life, the goal would be to have it be the shortest part of the circumference.
Right now I’m enjoying this really “green” new dog, and all of the perfect summer fruit. Hakuna Matata.
Sunday Supper
With sweet corn coming on, we should definitely consider making some fresh Corn Chowder, or these Fresh Corn Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce. This Cucumber Avocado Salad is always a favorite. These Grilled Pork Sandwiches with Grilled Plum Chutney and Cabbage Slaw seem perfectly timed.
Sunday Music
This live set from more than decade ago features Diane Birch, an artist I only recently discovered. Bruce Hornsby sits in with Goose to jam. The great Keith Jarrett playing Somewhere Over The Rainbow never will get old. Enjoy!
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Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,