Strawberry Lady

One of the tasks Eleanor inherited from Chauncey after she left her job is going to the Farmers Market on Tuesday mornings.  Chauncey took her the first time and showed her which vendors he liked.  There are only six to eight vendors so it is easy to keep track of where to go for what. 

During their initial visit, Chauncey pointed out the lettuce lady, who doubles as the strawberry lady, the egg couple and his favorite fruit guy.  As he and Eleanor passed a long table full of well organized fruit, Chauncey said, “Don’t go there.  He’s the mean fruit guy.”  And, in fact, few people are ever at his stand.

What Eleanor likes most about this particular Farmer’s Market is hearing Spanish.  The market is in a latino neighborhood.  Most of the vendors and customers are Spanish speakers.  Once, after Eleanor had paid for her strawberries, she heard the familiar, “Que le vaya bien (May everything go well for you).”  She had not heard this phrase since her last week of work. 

The Strawberry Lady

Eleanor spent over 20 years as a clinical social worker providing therapy to children and their families.  Meetings took place at the child’s school or in the home.  The parents were typically from Mexico and spoke only Spanish.  Eleanor spoke Spanish and developed strong connections with the parents because of this.  Often, after painful conversations about a family’s struggles, a parent would say to Eleanor as she was leaving, “Que le vaya bien,” or “Que Dios te bendiga (May God bless you).”  This was a way of expressing gratitude for whatever relief the conversation had provided. 

The strawberry lady’s words reminded Eleanor of the people she had helped not so long ago, in a world where Spanish-speaking immigrants search for ways to make a living and raise their children in a way that differs from how they were raised.  Eleanor promised herself to offer the same blessing she had been offered the next time she was at the Farmer’s Market.