zucchini joy
i was attending a wedding shower where couples and families had been invited, and the soon-to-be bride and groom each shared true stories about the other growing up. v got up first, and shared a sentimental story about his love, back when she was just a little girl, and it inspired the guests to let out a collective, ‘awwwwww,’ when he was finished.
then c got up and shared her story about him. she told the tale of when v was little, and he desperately wanted a pet. his parents told him that it was absolutely not going to happen. and he cried and he begged and he cried some more, but all to no avail.
he wanted a companion so badly, that one day he adopted a large zucchini that he had found in the garden. he put a rope on it to create a leash, and took it on a walk. he loved his zucchini, took care of it, cleaned the outside of it, and dragged it along with him wherever he went. his mother made him keep it outside to sleep at night, where he left bowls of water for it, and each morning he ran to get it and was reunited with his pet once more. and he was happy.
a couple of re-enactors
before too long, as zucchini are known to do, especially when being dragged around in the dirt, the zucchini began to rot and fall apart. v valiantly tried to patch it up as best he could, but when he took it to walk around with him, little chunks fell off, and then big ones, and then bigger ones, until there was nothing left of it.
he had desperately tried to save his beloved pet, but now all that remained, was a stain on the leash, just hanging limp in his hand with nothing on the other end. and he sat in the dirt and he mourned the loss of his beloved pet zucchini.
and the shower guests responded with a collective silence. and then some laughed until they could not stop laughing, and tears rolled down their faces. and one had tears rolling down his face just remembering his zucchini.
habseligkeiten (German) – things that an adult might find worthless, but that a child regards as treasures.
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image credits: stephiemccarthy.com, flkr.com, zazzle.com
how hilarious, sweet and sad.
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thanks, belinda. it really is a combo of the 3 )
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That is one enormous Zucchini! The poor poppet dragging around a battered pet on a leash. You certainly have some amazing stories to tell lovely. Loved the quote awwwww 🙂 xx
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jen – i know it is just so sad, he was desperate. amazing stories are all around us. )
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LOVED this one. This could totally be a children’s story. Incidentally, I know a few women who have pet zucchinis. But they call it something else… Too much?
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sean, glad you enjoyed it, and it does sound a bit like story kids would enjoy and understand. as for the women and there pet zucchinis, so funny, that thought crossed my mind too )
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Belinda said it best…it is all those things. I hope he is able to laugh at it after all these years…though it sounds like it was traumatic at the time. I couldn’t help but think…if the child would go to those lengths to “create” a pet, couldn’t his parents have gotten him those damn turtles we all had that would end up flushed down the toilet…Usually that would get the pet desire out of the kids’ system…
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sue – yes, that probably would have taken care of it, but they were very strongly against it –
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I loved this story!! That just shows that the bride and groom were meant to be together – I mean, who else would you tell the story of your precious childhood zucchini to, if not your beloved? 🙂
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thanks amb. and so true )
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This is made sadder by the fact that not enough remained to fry up with parmesan and panko. Then it could be like The Giving Tree, but the giving zucchini. We grew some enormous zucchinis a few years ago, and I took them to work bc they truly were so astounding that you want the world to see and touch them. So I can see becoming friends with it. This reminded me of a facebook friend whose family raised a prizewinning hog last month and then sent her off to slaughter and then posted pics of them eating her as pork chops. I don’t think I could do that. The zucchini, maybe so.
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kerbey – hahahahaha. oh, don’t know if i could have done the pork chop/pet pig thing, but a veggie, i could handle –
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There is a children’s book called Sophie’s Squash that is about a girl who adopts and names a squash. So funny that it really happened with a zucchini!
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that is so funny, i’ll have to check that out. well then, more than one child must have had the desperate thought of taking on a veggie as a pet. understandable if you just want someone special to love )
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Best. Story. Ever.
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nancy, so happy you enjoyed it.
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Amazing and lovely story.
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thanks, peter. )
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Gad-zukes!
I sure hope the ‘rents got him a ‘fur real’ pet thereafter. This post could easily be expanded to a children’s book!!
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charron – no real pet ever entered his life sadly, and thanks for reading )
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Sweet shower tale, indeed, Beth. A boy who so diligently adores and cares for his pet zucchini will surely make a thoughtful husband.
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thanks, mark. and i think you are very right )
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I love how your tell a story… 🙂
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climbing – thanks so much, i love telling them )
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hilarious! I loved your story
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thanks baad!
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That is hysterical! It’s absolutely the funniest thing I’ve read all week! I wonder if he can eat zucchini now or if he would feel like a cannibal? 😀
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rachel – happy you enjoyed it and great question. what if they had served zucchini at the shower not knowing the future bride would tell that story?
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Hahaha! I had to grow up to appreciate the value of zucchini.
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andra – me too. but perhaps if we had one as a pet when we were young….
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This is so funny, Beth! Great tale and you had me by capturing on film, your cute grandson (right? or other adorable child) with the huge zucchini! This couple sound like they are going to make it in the long haul! Humor and sweetness go a long way in my book! Smiles, Robin
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thanks robin, no, just random re-enactors in that photo ) agree about the couple – beth
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Aw, that is adorably kid. And I’m glad to know there is a word habseligkeiten which I’ll never remember when I need it, but which I ought to.
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yes, and that is a very important word.
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Dogs and cats take longer to break your heart. But I’d question my spouse carefully before agreeing to have children.
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great thought here )
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I LOVE re-enactors 🙂 This is awesome, Beth.
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i’m quite sure kids and veggies have their own group, just like the civil war guys )
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Oh my. That confirms my feelings about zucchini…they should be avoided at all costs! 😉
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now that you know, there is no turning back )
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I love zucchini! Love your post great.
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thank you so much )
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This is such a beautiful post about love and loss. v heartwarming. well written Beth.
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thank you ana )
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What a delightful story, and what a great history these two share already! Great post! 🙂
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thanks, deb, i ‘m happy you enjoyed it )
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Awwwwwwww
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)
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I’m still laughing, that poor kid! 😀
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i know, it is rather bittersweet )
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That thing is massive!
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it is, indeed )
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Lovely post! Naturally I am thrilled about your use of “habseligkeiten” a German word that I haven’t used in quite a while. Selig means utter happiness and also salvation, in fact in German the pope declares somebody “selig”. A child’s habseligkeiten are some things that brings an almost heavely happiness and are watched over religiously, just like this zuccini!
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oh, fantastic ! i’m so happy i used it in the right way )
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Hey Mathilde! So good to hear from you! Thanks for your co!!netmmMax and I mentioned you yesterday thinking about all the people we can go visit around Europe 🙂 We will also be happy to host you in Berlin!The move is being a bit crazy so I am behind in posting recipes, but I plan to get back to it, possibly with some German treat ;)Hope to see you soon!
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