So I chose to let the peach alone, as the poem says. After all, I was new in the neighborhood. A few days later I was out talking to my neighbor, a verteran Utah Highway Patrolman, across the aforementioned fence. Having no idea at all of my days-long inner debate over that peach, he picked it and handed it to me. I can’t remember what I did with it. I think I might have given it to my son or husband.

As it turned out, engaging in this early act of extended friendship was the actual peach, well worth the wait. To this day I am grateful for all the peaches this man shared in loving kindness toward me and my family. I trace the origins of our close friendship to this peach incident.