Green Pears

Have I mentioned that one of my favorite treats of this summer/fall season is a green pear?  Other than being aware that one must carefully time the eating of green pears with any and all upcoming social events, they are a delightful treat that comes once a year.  They are best when eaten directly off a tree.


Over the years my dad has entered fruit in to the Utah State Fair.  One year he discovered a pear tucked away in one of his trees that would surely take first place in the 'Biggest Pear' category.  He watched it grow and planned on picking it the day before fair entries were due.  When the day arrived, he hurried over to the orchard to pick this prize-winning pear.  To his dismay, the pear was gone.  It wasn't until the other fruit from all over the state was entered and on display that he realized that his brother, Cliff, had found his prized pear, picked it, entered it and won first prize.  All of his tender loving care of that huge pear had paid off nicely - a blue ribbon in fact - it just didn't go to my dad.


He never really said but I think that was one lost ribbon that was a little harder to get over.  It's one thing to be beaten by someone else but quite another to be beaten by your own success and hard work.

Being a gracious 'loser' was a great lesson my dad taught me that year as I munched on the pears that didn't make it to the fair.  It wasn't so much in what he said but in how he acted.  In fact, it became part of our family's lore and always garners a laugh when we remember 'Uncle Cliff's' prize winning pear.


Dad, thanks for the lesson and thanks for the green pears.