I’ve been looking at my dragonfruit for 5 days, thinking its too pretty to eat. It is, really. It looks more like art than produce. So groovy. I was suckered into buying it at the farmers market. Its not always there, only sometimes, and it looks so insane I’ve always wanted to ask about it- what it is and what it tastes like. 5 days ago I actually did ask and the seller told me it was called Dragonfruit and was delicious, but hard to find. I asked her how to eat it and she said you just cut it in half and scoop it out like kiwi, seeds and all. Its hard a imagine a fruit being hard to find on this island, fruit is everywhere, everywhere. The side of the highway, the lawn by the post office, falling on cars downtown in public parking. I found the idea that this fruit has to be looked for intriguing, and frankly, seductive. Like a secret. That’s how I got suckered about of $6. I can normally buy a whole orchard for $6 at the farmers market. It was $4 a pound, so I looked for a small one, but somehow it still managed to be a pound and a half. Maybe. The lady selling kept the scale pretty far away from me, and I’ll bet she was scamming big time. Actually she claimed it was more than 1.5lbs and acted like she was giving me a huge deal and threw in a bunch of lychee and rambutans, while I tried to back away from the stand. She wasn’t having it. I left with the dragonfruit.
It was delicious when I finally sliced it open. I wish I could describe what it tastes like, but nothing really tastes like it. Kind of sweet and fragrant like lychee, squishy like kiwi. The whole look of the inside is amazing – all these little black seeds floating around in white/translucent juicy flesh. Like little galaxies in space, or Op Art shapes jumping in and out of canvas in crazy perspective. Yummy and fascinating. But expensive.
Jungledad is finally home, minding the twinnies or trying to anyway. They are teething and consequently grumpy, which makes them much less charming as of late. They voice a lot of grievances through shrieks, cries, yells, and whimpers that I believe all translate to : my gums hurt! ouch!! The teething rings are popular, but seem to only bring temporary relief. I know its natural for them to express their discomfort and I can’t very well ask them to stop being babies about it because they are babies and behaving as babies should. But it is exhausting.
Still, I’m happy they’re growing. I’m so proud. There were several dragonfruits on that seller’s table that weighed more than the twins did at birth. Good for them. Good for them for growing into big girls with sharp little teeth fighting to get out. I have to buck up and focus on the simple pleasures- they way they turn their heads and smile when I walk into a room, the way bananas turn yellow on a tree on the front lawn, the way a dragonfruit tastes as it slides down the throat.
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