Favorite Things: Citrus In The Mail
Gifts wrapped in newspaper always seem more precious to me than those wrapped in fine expensive papers. It seems like the offerings come on the bent wings of the world which makes it all that much more surprising when they reach you with that gentle rustling noise universal to all things packaged in newpaper. Out of dreadful news and weather reports come winter jewels and other bright treasures. 
I am thinking of songs with "tea and oranges"....was that Leonard? For some reason this beautiful gift of oranges and lemons is reminding me of trunks full of hats, scarves, dresses made of printed Indian muslins, and Sausalito houseboats rocking silently in the dirty dock-waters.I love that so many varieties of citrus ripen in the winter and yet reminds us all of summer sunshine. It feels like liquid light and keeps us from suffering crippling bouts of scurvy. It is a gift to the long cold dark months. I can find spring with beacons like this to light my way.
This box of citrus was sent to me by Lonnie who was a childhood friend of my mother's when they both lived in Italy. She found me through this blog in a wild convergence of chance and circumstance. She tripped over my blog and I wrote things that struck a familiar cord; said names that opened up memories for her and she asked me if I could possibly be my mother's child and if my Grandfather could possibly have been Captain T.J. Laforest.
He was.
Lonnie knows I don't buy much citrus even though I love it because I don't buy a much non-local fruit*. These come from her own trees and I can tell you that the oranges lack the strange waxy finish that store bought ones do and are full of the best flavor! These are better than any I have bought in a store in years!
She also sent a special treat for Max which was really thoughtful since he doesn't get packages in the mail and it's one of his favorite things. She sent a Ninja Lego set and he hasn't even seen the Ninja Legos at all before- so he was over the moon and this box turned out to be one of the sweetest notes in a very tough week for both me and Max.
Thank you Lonnie for giving me such a wonderful winter treat! I want to hear your Italy stories. Not so I can hear about my mom, but so I can hear about you and what strange adventure you were having there too. I would love, if you ever cared to show me, pictures of you in Italy.
This is not the first time I have received citrus in the mail. My close friend Sharon sent me a box of Meyer lemons from her own tree and it was, like this box, the happiest package to open- revealing the bright yellow fruits that smelled the way life should always smell.
Getting citrus in the mail from friends is one of my favorite things now that I live north. It's better than gold. No, really, I can't buy fruit that good or people that sweet.
*My one constant imported fruit I indulge in right now is avocados.
Comments (1)
Good Tidings and Best Wishes to all the sweet hearted people that bestow us with gifts beyond price.
I honestly can't think of anything better than getting fruit in the mail.
Kind Regards
Belinda
Posted by simply.belinda | January 25, 2010 2:02 AM
Posted on January 25, 2010 02:02