Watermelon prompts a wealth of memories

Last week in the supermarket while I selected a small plastic box with chunks of watermelon in it, I thought about how the sweet and sticky fruit played a big part in my younger years.

During the summers I spent at my grandparents', we traditionally had a large, red slice of watermelon before the invariable nine o'clock bedtime. My father's great-grandmother prepared the large oak kitchen table for this sloppy feast by covering it with an oilcloth (yes folks, there was something before plastic!) Then the melon was lifted to its place of honor in front of my grandfather.

With his butcher knife, he would cut a large slice for each of us. The black seeds and juice ran onto the table from our overflowing plates. With everyone in a good mood, he was ready to try out a few of the jokes he would preface each of his Sunday sermons with, to see which ones he would use.

Each joke was selected from a leatherbound tome prominently displayed on the desk in his study. The book was titled "Make 'Em Laugh,"and was a compendium of jokes deemed suitable for any church occasion.

The congregation seemed to enjoy them, and grandfather certainly loved telling them. He felt it showed he was not only their Pastor, but also a regular guy. I'm certain he found telling jokes preferable to the many counseling session with members who had intractable problems they wanted his help to solve.

Of course ,in those days my only problem was how to stretch the jokes and watermelon feast out till well after that dreaded 9 pm bedtime. But now, well, even if it's midnight, I think I'll have a big juicy slice of my favorite summer fruit!

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According to the Mended Hearts Inc. official newsletter, there is a coronary-prone personality, a person who is more easily stressed out or frustrated when waiting in lines or driving behind slow drivers, finding them all just too slow. These people live their lives competing with other people and racing against the clock.

Scientists have come to believe that hostility and time-urgency are two factors that lead to heart attacks and heart disease. Although stress is the main culprit, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and a high level of 'bad' cholesterol also contribute greatly to cardiac death rates.

You do have some control over these factors. Most important, of course, is to embark on a healthy lifestyle. And, as with any advice, always discuss it with your doctor first.

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There's a fun trip you can make with the grandkids that will show them you know your way around. Head for the newly-rebuilt Krispy Kreme on 9th and Cervantes, and let them see the doughnuts being made from start to finish.

The new building features a glassed-in kitchen where you can watch the doughnuts rise, cook in the hot oil, flip over for more toasting, then slide under an icing "waterfall" that glazes them. Then they ride along an assembly line and are placed into boxes. It's a fun process and kids (and adults) will be fascinated.

Choose your hot doughnuts from the glass display cases, then sit down at a table and enjoy! There are also ice cream drinks and coffee specialties galore. And did you know, there's a drive-through, and it's open 24 hours? Now, no matter when the doughnut craving hits, you can satisfy it. No wonder the place stays busy day and night!

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Here's a quote I enjoyed:

Youth looks forward, old age looks back, and middle age looks worried.

See you next week!