The Peach Preservist

"a true story, happening right now while you are reading"

My mother's been wounded
hand to hand combat
with a curb's left
her one-winged.

A serious concern
when you're over eighty,

made infinitely worse
by the fact today's the day

she'd booked for canning
her summer peaches!
Fortunately, for her,
her one good daughter-

in-law's agreed to be
conscripted-inlisted
for training
as a peach preservist.

From the back room
I'll keep a safe distance,

while the general marshals
the air-force reservist.

Ken e Bujold

©2022

Author's Note

My mother had a slight slip yesterday, the day before her day for canning peaches. And when you're eighty you wait for no man, "those peaches aren't going to keep forever!" So she has enlisted her daughter-in-law, the ex-Singapore Air Force veteran, to assist in the preservation. Me, I'm staying as far away from the kitchen as is humanly possible

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

When I was young, a lot of guys my age fled to Canada to avoid the draft. You're already there and are still having to dodge another type of conscription. When the call comes, you better be nimble.

[Ken e Bujold]

or be married to an air force reservist :)
thanks for the review John

[Chris Shaw]

Wonderful to grow your own. Your peaches here reminded me of a peach tree years ago in a great uncle:s garden. Sadly he was disabled and many of the peaches rotted where they fell. Such a waste. I used to have damsons and greengage, but no more. I can imagine the busy time spent in the preparation here. Your mother is a marvel and is great she had some assustance while she had an injury. Nothing will put a good woman down. Enjoyed this read very much. Nicely visual and my taste buds were tempted. Lovely poem Ken.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

thanks for the review Chirs.

[Neville]

we are not big on canning here in the UK Ken but in Bulgaria where I have my little mountain retreat (at least until the end of September) because I just sold it .. everybody is into preserving just about everything edible .. and quite a lot that is decidedly inedible too .. we don't grow that many peaches here either, but I have some smashing peach trees, again in BG ... Having said all that, I totally get where you are coming from and enjoyed my visit here today .. I hope your ma is okay ... I'm off to harvest myy apples later today to make cider ............... All Good Things, Neville

[Ken e Bujold]

the older generation like my mother are still practicing the old arts, and now it seems, so is my dear wife, the reservist

[Andrew John]

Lovely observation, Ken. Hard time for your mum. Hope you enjoy those peaches - oh, and thanks for the observation. One day, she can can.

[Ken e Bujold]

thank you andrews

[Crowley]

She sounds like a very capable woman, even at 80. that was always the cry around my house as well, "have to get these canned before they rot." I have nostalgic feeling for canning, and miss the all the goodies. Great job Ken!!

[Ken e Bujold]

thanks Crowley, and as an update I haven't heard of any casualties or calls for unconditional terms of surrender so they must be getting on with the business of skinning peaches
:)
Ken e