The Mirabelle plum tree produces tiny yellowish orange fruit that are barely larger than a grape. They have small stone pits that look like elongated cherry seeds. The first time my mom and I came across one of these delightful plum trees was just before we reached the city of Logroño. We were weary and sweaty and wondering when we would finally get to a bed, a shower, and a bocadillo.
We came across a large community garden on our right where about a dozen men were out tending to tomatoes and peppers and all sorts of greens. We were walking on a gravel road covered in patches of grass. On our left was a fence lined with trees.
By this time it was early afternoon. The plums were baking in the 2 p.m. sun, infiltrating our nostrils with the aroma of hot stone fruit pie. We weren't sure at first if they even were plums—they were much smaller than any plums we'd ever had and an entirely different color palette. But the smell gave them away. One bite later and we were hooked. Our Camino candy. One bite sour, another sweet. Popping plums and spitting seeds in one swift motion, at the same time reaching for the next juicy taste. When our bellies were full we filled a leftover plastic grocery bag with more to munch on while we walked, thankful for the delicious provisions the Camino continued to provide.
Our eyes and minds were set on reaching our destination, but we found something sweet that made the journey the best part of the day.
Are you too focused on an end goal to miss the gifts of what you will find along the way? Goals are great, but maybe what you need to help you keep going is actually already available to you. Where might you find some plums in your day?
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