tomatoes.

 ********

[photo courtesy of the noisy plume.]

he loved tomatoes, having worked tomato farms as a strapping and handsome young man. 

he loved horses, and he broke his leg, as the story goes, 

when the horse tried to brush him off its back, tried to scrape him off 

on the barn door. 
he had a quick wink and a handsome smile.
as he aged, he cried freely and unashamedly.

he fell in love with the apple blossom queen, a lovely girl whom he had known 

for many years. 

they wed young, early in their lives, 
and stayed as such, 
he, 90, and she, 88, when his spirit left his tired and fragile body,
early in the morning. 

early in this gentle luminous alaska morning. 

can you imagine being married longer than most people live? 

can you imagine a love so strong that it keeps you faithful and loyal, 

through thick and thin?

****

he loved me as a daughter. 

i called him my alaskan dad. 

there are reminders of him all around my house. 

and you know i shall miss him.

********