A lesson on how to pick a peach

Today I wandered the streets of Seattle for the first time. It is, as I am told, the most beautiful time of the year here. It stopped raining the day before I arrived, and is due to begin again, shortly after my leaving. I started my day on Pike Ave, where I sat alone quietly with the newest issue of Nat. Geographic and a Reuben at a local sandwich shop, the Honey Hole. I worked my way downtown on Pike which led me to the famed Pike's Place Market. I was overwhelmed as I rummaged through piles of fresh morels, porcinis, English pea pods, fiddlehead ferns, jumbo aspargus...the list goes on. I thought to myself, ...this happens everyday here!!! One of the vendors, was coaxing in potential customers(as most of them do), by cutting a piece of their prized stock and feeding it to passers by. I was sold. Three ripe and ready to eat white peaches-the best I have ever tasted. I cradled them with excitement, fighting off any urge to eat them right away. I would save them for later. A big finale to come!

I took a brief rest at a small restaurant inside the market by the name of Athenian, where from my booth I enjoyed a cold locally brewed beer as I stared through an old glass window at the beauty of Mount Rainier amid the Cascade Mountain Range-It's peak still finished with snow. Shortly after, I made my way towards pier 70 where I met up with an old friend from highschool, which I haven't seen for aleast 12 years. It was surreal but fantastic to say the least.
As I made my way through the city, I came upon the stores Patagonia and Mtn. Hardwear. To those who know me...I need say no more. Might I mention, that I purchased my very first pair of galoshes(personally recommended by the fishmongers at Pike's Market). They will come in handy on the boats in Alaska. After a few more hours of getting lost, I decided it was time to head home. Tonight's menu: Morel mushroom ragout, English pea risotto, Wild Alaskan Salmon...and of course...my three white peaches.

After waiting for the bus at the wrong stop for one hour, I headed to my new starting point, where when I arrived i was told by the very helpful citizens of Seattle, that I had just missed the 73, and it would be another hour wait. As I waited, i began thinking of my peaches again. But no!! I was not going to give in. Save them for later-I thought. My bus eventually arrived, and I boarded and headed home. When I arrived at my destination(2 hours late), I burst through the door with excitement and story. And as I rummaged through my bags to unearth my prized possesions, it was NOT peaches that I found, but peach puree.

That said...Goodnight. I have a long journey back to the market tomorrow to eat a peach.