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I Am Grateful for Grapefruit


I'm feeling especially grateful for, of all things, the grapefruit in the center of this photograph. I'm grateful for apples and Brussel sprouts, cranberries and all the bounty that is so easily found just a few blocks from home. But this year I am especially grateful for grapefruit. I can understand if you think that's somewhat odd. But I am a big fan of grapefruit and for the last decade I have limited my consumption due to a certain popular medication for cholesterol. But as of Tuesday I am off that medication -- at least for a little while -- and I can go to town with grapefruit. I hadn't thought of it initially, but as was walking down Broadway Tuesday afternoon the thought came to me, "I can eat grapefruit again."

That thought led to a number of other thoughts, particularly that the things I am grateful for in this phase of my life seem to be very different from earlier times of my life. I am grateful for hours without "Breaking News" on the television. I am grateful for fresh flowers all year round and appreciate the hard work that brings them to my neighborhood. I am grateful for the aroma of freshly ground coffee and I am grateful for oases of serenity in the midst of the noise and rush of New York.

 Grateful for fresh flowers all year round...
 
...and Central Park, from Central Park South.
 


My aunt's almond loaf recipe. I realize it's a little cryptic. When I looked at it tonight I realized she had omitted any instruction about mixing the ingredients or shaping the loaf -- flat on a greased cookie sheet. She assumed I would know what to do.
 
I'm also grateful for memories of Thanksgivings past and all those I celebrated with. I'm grateful to have my Aunt Miriam's recipe for Mandel Bread -- actually a sweet almond tea loaf -- that we enjoyed on every holiday and a good many other days throughout the year. It was "her" recipe and I am so grateful to have a copy of it in her handwriting. The scribble at the far right is my writing. I am grateful, too, for friends to celebrate with today.
 
When I started writing this post, my thought was that I was grateful for small graces, but I realized those small graces are all symbols of the basics of life...family, friends, good health and the sweet rhythm of every day life. It's not that I was ungrateful of small graces in the past, but as youth slips further into memory, the basics of life grow more important. Yes, I am grateful for grapefruit.   
 
Wishes for a Thanksgiving of graces large and small. Thanks for visiting and have a day sweet with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!
 

13 comments

Becky K. said...

Beautifully written. And just this week Warren and I had a conversation about weight loss and grapefruit. He said to be able to eat it again would be motivation to work hard enough to get off that medication. :-) Ahh....the love of grapefruit.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Like you, Carol, I have not had grapefruit in 10 or so years. I loved the pink grapefruit the most. Your thoughts about being grateful for the things we take for granted touched me. In these times of negativism and greed, we have to look out at the beautiful things that surround us and appreciate what nature and life and given us.

Enjoy, enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Happy Thanksgiving !

Theresa said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I am thankful for SO many blessings, big and small! HUGS!

Linda said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for your lovely post...many Blessings

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

What a deep, thoughtful, and uplifting post! And the photos are so interesting. Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

Melinda said...

We all have many things to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

M : )

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Lovely, true words.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Deanna

Nadine_Feldman said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Congrats on getting to eat grapefruit again. It's a wonderful winter food!

I am grateful to be spending Thanksgiving with family in New Jersey...and that since I'm not cooking this year, I have been getting good work done on the novel!

Mevely317 said...

I love your thoughts on small graces, Carol.

Congratulations on your respite from the meds that kept you from enjoying grapefuit!!! That's probably the only fruit I enjoy.

I think our loved ones' recipes are treasures, indeed. Last Christmas I had my mother's traditional banana-nut bread (hand-written) recipe transferred onto kitchen towels for myself, my DIL and grand-girls.

Happy Thanksgiving, Carol!

BJ PUP said...

Happy Thanksgiving

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Carol! I love juicy naval oranges, so I find they are a good substitute to grapefruit. NYC has such good fresh fruit and veggie stands...fresh flowers too...enjoy all your special places, large and small!

Susie said...

Buttercup, I love your markets. Thank you for the pictures of the park too. I love it. Glad you have good memories of family times. Me too. Blessings, xoxo,Susie