MtheGM, no you're not alone in delighting in the memories of an annual treat of fresh fruits. I remember when the "Strawberry Man" would come through our neighborhood on hot summer days, singing out to all who would hear, his invitation to come and buy. "Straaawberries! Fresh, home-grown straaawberries!" Adults stopped what they were doing, children stopped their play, and eagerly made their way to his cart to see, smell and taste the fresh-picked harvest, which included whatever happened to be in season.

Regarding your last question - Not an analogy, really, but I've often wondered about this - With our fast-paced lives, so many things, from fast foods to internet access, to big, one stop box stores, to the year-round availability of seasonal fruits -- all good, in many ways, but by having everything available to us all the time, have we lost something valuable as well? Like the ability to wait and be comfortable doing so? And the feeling of anticipation? Might our appreciation for what we have be influenced by its constant and immediate availability? As things become quickly and constantly available to us in our fast-paced lives, have we allowed our need for immediate gratification to replace our ability to delay it? That's what your post has me pondering...