Don't Go Breaking My Heart

The month of June is such a tease. June is like that guy you’re just starting to date. You’re quite certain he likes you and finds you remarkably interesting, and in turn he begins to show you his charm, his warmth, his true colors. You might have a really good day with him, and you can’t help but let your expectations escalate. You think, “Wow, this guy might be something special. I’m so excited to see what lies ahead for us!” But then, perhaps on the very next day (or even as early as the next hour), it seems he is pulling away and turns cold. Naturally, you begin to question whether he’s merely playing you. Just when you decide you should write him off as a flirt and nothing more, he shows up again, shining his rays of light and presenting you with beautiful flowers. I don’t care what girls may say, they always like getting flowers. Especially peonies.

It’s probably bad form to do this on my blog, but I’m much too non-confrontational to do it in person. Please bear with me while I get this off my chest. I’m a little nervous.

June, I feel like you’re messing with me. I like you, but you’re all over the place - you’re hot one minute, you’re cold the next. I'm always wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight. (Thank you, Taylor Swift, for that line.) I’m being such a girl right now, overanalyzing the things you do and constantly asking myself whether I’m wearing the appropriate clothing. I know it’s early on (this is only our 11th day together), but why is it that you’ll be sunny and warm towards me, but then suddenly you turn cloudy and chilly? Are you afraid of commitment? I understand the internal struggle you must feel – half of you is in spring and the other half in summer. But it’s cruel to show the summer side of you prematurely and then take it away (not to mention make me put my sweater on and then take it off again 20 times a day). I realize that I can’t ask a lot from you, but why can’t I just get the best of you? I don’t mean to make you jealous, but you should probably know that there are others I have my eye on – namely July, August, and September. I see such potential in you, but your moodiness makes me wonder if I should simple forget you and look forward to a brighter (and warmer) future.

Whew! I feel better. That was good catharsis.

I caught some of June’s coyness today at the Hollywood Farmers Market. Seeing and smelling all the late spring flowers, herbs, strawberries, greens, sweet carrots, etc., etc., etc., made me want it to be summer – like real summer (no flirting, no games) - so bad. I can’t wait for the varieties of tomatoes, raspberries and blackberries, green beans, and so much more. Such as popsicles. And ice cream. Lots of ice cream.

At the market this morning, I picked up luscious rainbow chard, radishes, yellow zucchini, and a bunch of Walla Walla spring salad onions. As I perused Aurora, Oregon’s very own Big B Farms’ display, I spotted something I hadn’t seen before: an odd-looking variety of leek, the actual name of which is completely lost on me at the moment. (Was it leek bulbs?) Here’s a visual instead.



Of course I was intrigued by this specimen, but I wanted more information, so I decided to ask Farmer Big B himself (do realize that I have no idea if this guy is a farmer – let alone the farmer - but he worked behind the table so I figured he must know something). As I inquired, he grabbed three from a bunch, handed them to me, told me to treat and prepare them like asparagus, and report back. We exchanged some nice leek banter, and I walked away with free produce.

June may be fickle and unreliable with its weather, but at least I know I will always enjoy a day at the farmers market….that is, as long as it’s not raining.