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Pairs of Pears
a fruit wonderful to behold — and eat by caroline barrett | photos by paul barrett
P
ears have great personality. Each has its own look: leaning this way or that, bright green, pale yellow or deep scarlet red. No matter the color or size, however, they also have one trait in common: frump. Pears are slightly lumpy and always have a big bottom. Pear-shaped is what they call it. It’s not flattery for anyone or any thing. But I think this fruit is beautiful, in all its frumpiness. Eating pears is a special treat and I have a lovely memory of Lucy, at 14 months, sitting on a blanket one fall afternoon. I gave her a pear to eat and she slobbered and juiced and gobbled while we lay back to watch the clouds pass over the blue fall sky. This was in the days of no siblings, and we were able to spend afternoons eating pears and lying about. It was a peaceful and sweet time.
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