A Lot Is At Stake

On this day,

I ponder

differences

in Foods

in 1955 and 2006.

In 1955, I was 7

and in 2006, I was 58.

In numbers alone,

I'd find 3,000 Foods

sold in Stores in 1955.

I'd be hard pressed

to find that

in Freeman Grocery,

a Mom and Pop store

on Harrison Street

where I bought Penny Gum or Candy

with that Copper Penny

clutched in my little hand

on my way

to Washington School.

I might find

that in Riley's 7 to 9,

a couple of blocks over.

But I doubt

such a vast array

would be found

in my Little Rural Town

off the Beaten Path.

In 2006, I'd find

45,000 Foods

sold in Stores.

As I cruise the aisles

of Stores that profess

to sell "Food" in 2008,

I must say

I do not recognize

most as Foods.

The Grandmas

of the 1950s

would cringe

at the "Foods" served up

to their Great Great Grandchildren.

This day, I ponder

some more besides.

I wonder about

the number

of additives

in Foods

between those 2 dates.

Who knows?

I ponder

the quality of Soils

in which our Food was grown

in those 2 dates spanning

just 6 decades

of my Life.

I wonder

the Chemicals

in Foods

between those 2 dates.

Whatever is

in those Foods

comes inside

the digestive tube

of the Hungry One

that is Me.

I wonder

the Diseases

arising these days

and their Connections

to our Food.

Some Connections we know,

others we have yet to ask.

We Modern Humans

are

a Chemical Experiment

of Vast and Unknown Proportions.

Those Grandma would say:

"There are

other ways,

Dear Family.

Keep it simple.

A lot is at stake."

~~~~

Data Source for 1955 and 2006:

Organic Gardening, Late Summer 2008, page 16.