The bittersweet reasons I love National Peach Month
DELICIOUS fruit and memorable moments of mom
Hello KIRC family
Can you believe it is already the last day of August? Wow, where is the time going?
Saying 'so long' to this month is quite bittersweet for me. And here’s why.
National Peach Month
Peaches from the KIRC mini-orchard
Did you know that August is the month set aside as National Peach Month? That is the time when peaches are said to be at their best.
That distinction has had me thinking about a rather large role the tasty fruit has played in my life, and how it helped shape my approach to caregiving for my mother.
You see my mother, Miss Nellie loved peaches. Fresh, canned, in a pie - it didn’t matter. She loved loved loved this fruit.
As I child, I recall my mother every now and again making mention of having worked for a brief time in a fruit canning facility.
She never shared much about those days, but I do remember her saying that was the one time frame when she did not want to eat peaches.
Growing up, there were always cans of Del Monte peaches in the cupboard. A little dish with a few of those bright orange peach slices would be our dessert after dinner.
As a young adult, I recall one of the first times I picked fresh peaches. At the time, I lived and worked in Louisville, Kentucky and my mother was visiting. We took a day trip to a local favorite; Huber's Orchard, Winery and Vineyards.
We spent part of the morning picking peaches. Anyone who has ever done this knows, your eyes are much bigger that your fruit baskets! Suffice to say, we came away that day with way more peaches than I knew what to do with.
Sunset Chapter
It’s funny how life and fate work. In my mother’s final chapter, she lived with me here in Northern California.
One of the first things we did once moving in, was to plant fruit trees. Knowing how much my mother loved peaches, we put in three different varieties.
The owner of the local nursery told me there was a good chance the trees would most likely bare fruit later that same year.
When I shared that news with my mother, she looked at me with that ‘Oh, sure it is,’ kind of smirk, as if to say, ‘We won’t see any peaches on that tree anytime soon!’ (Our household has a healthy dose of skepticism).
It warmed my heart then and it does so now, recalling the day in August of that same year when sure enough at least one of the trees had fruit! Mom didn’t believe her eyes!
Peaches galore!
Miss Nellie with fresh picked peaches/2019
During the last years of her life, not only did Miss Nellie have access to home grown peaches, but she also was able to enjoy the yearly peach picking event at Chico State University Farm.
Talk about being in peach heaven! A woman who loved peaches - able to move amongst acres of different variety peach trees - in the fresh air and sunshine listening to birds chirp, bees humming and plucking ripe, juicy peaches from the trees.
For three seasons at the sunset of her journey, Miss Nellie was able to experience sensory overload (taste, smell, touch, sight, sound) courtesy: the peach.
Who would have thought she would have been able to venture (with help) into her own backyard mini-orchard, and pick her own fresh peaches? I know she did not believe that would have been possible. It was one of my caregiving gifts to her.
Peaches. Seems like a small thing. But I could tell it made her happy, which made me happy.
Every time I look at the peach trees in my backyard, I can see Miss Nellie in my mind’s eye.
Picking her beloved peaches. Experiencing a simplistic joy.
My reminder to you? Discover that 'simple joy' in your loved-one's life. Honor that. Capture moments and memories. You will be glad you did.
Until next time~
Julia
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