I’ve asked for many things in my life that I never received, small things like not getting a refund for something I ordered that had never been sent and big things like Jeff getting well, but apparently, Jonathan apples are one thing I can ask for and actually receive.
I’d asked the produce manager at the local grocery store for Jonathan apples, and he ordered them. (I wasn’t the only one that wanted them, which helped. He says he has several ladies who want Jonathans and only Jonathans).
The order finally came in! I had to ask where the apples were because I didn’t recognize them. The Jonathans I was used to, those grown in Colorado, were small. The apples I was steered toward didn’t look any different from any other apple, and since the apples didn’t have a sticker as so many do, I wasn’t sure what I was getting.
Also, I wasn’t sure I would know a Jonathan anymore if it bit me (or rather, if I bit it) — it’s been many years since I’ve even tasted one.
But one careful test bite and oh, yes! It was exactly as I remember — perfection!
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why Jonathans are different from other apples. They have the shortest growing season of all apples, which makes them scarce. A soft crispness makes them bruise easily and prevents long-term storage. A tart sweetness makes for a great baking apple and even better eating. And yet, despite the distinctive flavor and texture, they still have that appleness that all others have. (If you close your eyes and take a bite of an apple, you know what you are eating, even if you don’t recognize the exact variety.)
Well, it’s been nice visiting with you, but I have to go. A Jonathan apple is waiting for me!
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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One. “Grief: The Inside Story is perfect and that is not hyperbole! It is exactly what folk who are grieving need to read.” –Leesa Healy, RN, GDAS GDAT, Emotional/Mental Health Therapist & Educator.
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