You get reminded every once in a while of some of the things we've missed this spring and summer, due to the pandemic. Like the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival.
Today is National Watermelon Day, and Ryan Seacrest was talking about putting salt on watermelon, which I had never heard of, til one summer at my grandfather's house.
My grandfather was a gruff soul, a farmer. And my cousin David was used to being around the farm. My brother Earl and I were not. One of my favorite memories at my grandfather's was a hot summer day, the three of us sitting on the back of a trailer load of watermelons, heading home from the field. David decided he wanted some watermelon, so he "dropped" one off the back of the trailer, jumped down, and scooped up a handful and gobbled it down.
I was appalled at his brazen act, but I know now that my grandfather wouldn't have minded... he grew so many melons, he would actually get upset if we ate it down to the rind. I remember sitting on the carport, the whole family eating watermelon, and he offered us a salt shaker.
A WHAT? I had never heard of such a thing. Canteloupe, yes... but watermelon? Never.
Apparently, a lot of people use salt on their watermelon. Do you?
(Photo: Getty Images)