Peaches

Whatever happened to soft peaches? Do you remember those lucious juicy ones that dripped juice all over you as you ate them? They bruised easily so you handled them as little as possible before you peeled them and mushed them up for homemade ice cream or laid the pieces in a dish for peach cobbler. No letting them sit around on the counter or in a paper bag to "ripen" into tasteless nothing.

Beside my grandparents' house in the Sandhills area of South Carolina there was a peach orchard. We weren't allowed to go there because our family didn't get along with the owner. Of course we kids would sneak over and find peaches, our favorites being those left over from the harvest. Those tree-ripened ones were absolutely the best!

Every time I buy peaches I do so with great optimism that I will again find that old-timey flavor and texture, and every time I am disappointed.

But, optimist that I am, I'll still keep buying and trying with hope that some day I'll find those wonderful peaches I remember so well.