Quote of the day:

A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime.
—Bertrand Russell

I do much of my shopping for fresh produce on Ninth Street, the area that has been traditionally known as the Italian Market.

However, in the past few decades the traditional vendors have made way to newer ones. Yes, some of the old stalwarts, or their descendants, are still there. Claudio’s still is a family run cheese and specialty food shop, and Espostio’s still has a butcher shop on the corner of Ninth and Carpenter. Giordano’s is still at Ninth and Washington— Oh, actually Giordano’s just closed a few months ago.

But the times change and Italian-Americans are no longer the upwardly mobile immigrants in this area. A couple decades ago when I lived here previously, it was the Vietnamese, as there seemed to be a Vietnamese restaurant or two on every block.

Now, it’s the Latinos.

For the past year I’ve been frequenting the produce stall just below Kimball Street and a friendly young woman named Lucy has usually been helping me. In fact, I’ve pretty much come to depend on her, as I trust her recommendations.

Lately, however, she has been nowhere to be seen. On a brief vacation, I thought. Well, she deserves it.

But then the vacation seemed to get longer and longer, and I began to worry.

Where was Lucy?

So when I went over there this morning, if she still wasn’t there, I was going to ask about her.

Happily, I no sooner arrived at the produce stand when I was greeted by her familiar smiling face.

“Where have you been, Lucy?” I asked.

It turned out that she just hadn’t been feeling very well, so she took some time off.

I told her I had been getting worried but I was glad to see that she was back.