Flo, Chiquita

As the Good King once said:

“It’s a puzzlement.”

And I cannot fathom why Flo Israel’s pithy sayings have remained so vibrant in my memory.

Flo and I worked together briefly in the same small office in an industrial park in Plainview, NY. She was the CFO, without the title, and her office was across the room from mine.

Flo had the voice of an orator and the confidence of a politician. Many of her pronouncements were mundane, but a few memorable. And this was one, never forgotten:

“Yesterday my Mother told me that in her new residence, the motto is: ‘Never buy green bananas.’”

Yesterday enjoying an unusual and spontaneous lunch with five interesting friends (also current neighbors,) our conversation drifted back in time. We recalled several other absent contemporaries who have been brought home by angels

Suddenly, Flo’s words ricocheted back into memory.

While the lively conversation continued at the rectangular table, I briefly wondered about the wisdom of her quote while I also recalled Chiquita Banana’s lyrical advice:

“ I've come to say Bananas have to ripen in a certain way. When they are fleck'd with brown and have a golden hue Bananas taste the best.”

I doubt that I have ever deliberately chosen to purchase green bananas or their equivalent. Although that decision could be attributed to an inherent pessimism, I believe it may have been due to something rather different, confidence.

Somewhere early in life, I began to believe that I have a scheduled trip home, at an unknown time and place. Today I now pray He will help me pack for that final journey.

And it really won’t matter if there are green or overripe bananas in my refrigerator.