'MATO HEAD! - A Vignette From Yester Year

Remember a couple summers ago when bacteria-ridden spinach scared the health out of us? Well, guess what? THE VEGGIES ARE IN THE SOUP – AGAIN! This time it’s the tomato that’s taking it on the chin. This little red devil is linked to Salmonella food poisoning.

I’ll admit that I felt sorry for the hapless spinach and viewed it as a good food gone bad. But with the tomato, it’s quite another story . All I can say is let the S.O.B.s (sources of bacteria) rot on the vine!

Because every time a news commentator says the word “tomato,” I’m transported back to my ninth grade year and the mornings I’d board the bus to school. From the backseat came the first salvo,”Here comes ‘mato head!” and then another voice would yell out, and yet another joined in. Soon almost the whole bus was chanting, “’mato head!” “’mato head!” “’mato head!”

Why the abuse? Go figure. Maybe they were miscreants. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I had a really REALLY round face and a really REALLY bulbous hairdo. Am I suffering some false persecution complex? Maybe so. But if anyone can make “Wow, you are some hot tomato” out of “Here comes ‘mato head,” contact me immediately.

Reminiscing about our younger selves can be pretty traumatic and sometimes results in the need to comfort our inner child. I give mine something sweet, like cookies or cakes. Hey, speaking of cakes . . .

Cake Comments:

“You’re a Better Boy than I am if you can resist a Small But Tall,” raved one fan.
“Don’t be a sucker! Buy a friend a Small But Tall,” admonished another.
“This is the best cake ever, or my name isn’t German Johnson!” bragged one enthusiast.

Cake Facts:

One Small But Tall will feed 15 horticulturists or 12 garden-variety type farmers.