Diary of a tomato plant - part 3: Here I am!

Here I am! Can you see me among the green leaves? I am the little green ball hanging down from one of the stalks. Wow! It did not take me long to come out – it has barely been a month since we arrived here and yet sure enough I am out already. This is exciting. Now, I can see the whole big world from a whole new angle. Of course my world is confined to the inside of the apartment and the building on the opposite side of the street and whatever else is in between. Still, I am enthusiastic about my change – and after all one’s world is as big or as small as one makes it. I am determined to make mine as big as I can and to learn and grow as much as I can while I can.

Now Jeff and Ranya’s world is much bigger than mine – way bigger. And this past weekend, it just got bigger when they discovered a new part of Virginia –historic downtown Charlottesville and Waynesboro.

Jeff and Ranya had actually been to Charlottesville before with their respective parents last year. They visited Monticello, the home of Jefferson, and ate fried chicken at the Michie Tavern. And it actually was the fried chicken that brought them back this year. Ever since that trip last year they had been talking about revisiting the place that had the “best fried chicken” they have yet to eat. So, this year they decided to make a weekend vacation out of it.

Ranya researched a nice bed and breakfast for them to stay at – the Trees Street Inn – in Waynesboro, around 25 miles west of Charlottesville. The Inn was spectacular, with a back porch, a pool and a sunroom. Their suite was very lovely, too. They had a four poster queen bed and a living room along side of it – not that they spent much time in their room but still it was nice that they had comfortable arrangements.

While the sleeping arrangements were splendid, Ranya could not say the same about the breakfast. Although she did enjoy the first day’s selection of fresh toast, butter and jam, granola and eggs and hash browns, the second day’s breakfast was less than satisfying. So much so that Jeff and Ranya ended up going almost straight to lunch from their after-breakfast nap.

Saturday was a full day for the Mikes. They woke up in time to see the sunrise at Skyline drive a 20minute car ride from their sleeping quarters. Following breakfast they headed back in the direction of Skyline drive but this time went a few more exits past it to historic downtown. There they spent time touring the Saturday Market (which happens to be one of Ranya's favorite activities and one she has not been getting her fill from ever since they moved to DC) and downtown Charlottesville.

For lunch, they headed out to Michie Tavern for a lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, stewed tomatoes and more fried chicken. Of course, desert was on their minds as well, and the sweet peach cobbler topped off the salty thighs and legs and breasts and wings. And that was all they could eat for the rest of the day. At least until dinner time - which for them came at an alarming time - 11:00 p.m!

Another drive to downtown is what was needed in order for them to eat. And after browsing all the listings on Magellan and then on feet, they decided on an Italian tapas place -Al-Dente. In all reality, that was one of four other places that was still serving dinner at that un-Godly hour in small town Charlottesville. Of course the bars were still open but they were not serving food - not even bar food! Ranya and Jeff were happy with their choice, though, and they enjoyed a cool, calm night out.

It was after midnight when they finally hit dream land again and wished they could stay there always. But they had to return to normal life in noisy Arlington and so the next afternoon back they went. I am glad they are home, though, cause I miss them when they are gone.