Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

Almost everything in its early stages is a sight to behold and draw hope from: babies, puppies, a camellia bud, a percolating idea, a new pair of shoes, a recently-elected president, inspiration. While visiting a spice plantation in the southwestern state of Goa, I found this developing pineapple. It struck me as an exquisite symbol of all the good that life delivers in infancy. Soon, after taking in sun and nutrients, the pineapple will grow fleshy and eventually come into its own. It will fill with juices. Someday it will be picked, and someone will eat it, drawing nourishment and experiencing a boost of energy. Note how as a newbie the fruit is surrounded by stems and leaves, as if for protection. Everything around it will bolster its success. This accompaniment, or guarding, whether natural or accidental, will help to keep the newbie upright.