Watermelon and a Slice of Life.

I eat watermelon upside down. I like to cut off the rind, and begin at the bottom- the widest part of the triangle. I hold it in my hands like an arrow pointing down. If I were to instead eat it from the top down toward the rind, it only gets less sweet with each bite. I prefer the feeling of guarantee, knowing that it is going to improve. The fruit tastes fairly good in those first few upside-down bites. Maybe slightly banal, paler, a little grey– not what it could be. But, let’s face it– it’s still watermelon, close to the rind or not. And I like watermelon. So I’ll take it. I know that the fruit is only going to get better from that point on, that every bite I take is slated to be sweeter still, and a little bit of anticipation is kind of a nice thought in itself. I look forward to that place, when I get to the heart– which is the best and sweetest of all.

I am working on going through my days like that. Because although the ‘right now’ is hard, and may seem a little grey, it’s going to be better. I just know it. I hope it. It is going to be better. Because there’s anticipation for when I’ll get to taste the sweeter fruit, to get to the heart of the matter. When dreams are dreams no longer and hard work has had its reward. When disappointments turn into achievement and tears are still tears, but they’ve changed to happiness and gratitude because a dream deferred has finally been realized. It’s only going to get better from here. Really, though? The here and now has good parts, too. This stage? It’s the paler part, close to the rind. Slightly banal and a little tough. Not what I’d choose. But, let’s face it– it’s good. It’s still watermelon. And I like watermelon.

Life is sweet. Even when it’s close to the rind. I’ll take it.

I’ll keep eating my watermelon upside down.

And I’ll keep hoping.

~

“Hope is the feeling that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.”

-Jean Kerr