POV You’re Overstimulated At The Farmers Market
Just a day in the life!
It’s the first farmers market of the season! The girlies are putting on sundresses and straw hats. They’re grabbing their boat totes adorned with ribbons and bag charms. They’re taking pictures of berries for their Instagram story. Fun! You want to go too!
But shit, you slept in and are wearing yesterday’s jeans and whatever top is clean. Still—you want to go for vibes. You need to go for vibes. It’s the first market of the season!
You grab your sunnies, mostly because they cover half your face. You’d put on makeup, but tbh you’re running out of time. The market closes in 45 minutes. It’s a 15 minute drive and it’s noon on a Saturday. The divas will be OUT and parking will be a nightmare. Still, you’re going for vibes! Spring dreams! A romanticized life, damn it!
You climb into your 2005 Honda Accord and start blasting Doechii, obviously. You ponder why you have to drive on the highway to go to the market instead of waltzing out your front door, a straw basket in the crook of your arm, to walk a few blocks for farm fresh eggs. You imagine that’s the scene in the Nancy Meyers movie you pretend you’re the star of—but instead, you’re the 6th car in line to turn left into a shopping center.
There are cars everywhere. People everywhere. Idiot drivers everywhere. You contemplate why you left the house as cars slowly pile into not one, but *two* overstuffed parking garages. Luckily, you know another entrance that’s way less populated. You may have to walk half a mile, but this is the price you pay for going to the market at noon. You whiz by the two lines of cars—sayonara suckers! You enter the less populated parking garage and park, no problem. Praise the farmers market gods!
You then start your trek to the market. Your fitness tracker alerts you that you are indeed on a walk. A trek. Like, it’s literally that far. You press on—for VIBES.
There are people walking too slow on the sidewalk and they immediately annoy you. Don’t they know the market closes in 20 minutes?? They’re too preoccupied with brunch plans, Sephora hauls or whatever they’re doing on a Saturday afternoon. The saving grace is the little old lady and little old man walking arm in arm. You imagine they’re coming from the bakery on the corner. It’s their Saturday tradition to sip hot coffee and nibble jelly doughnuts at a table by the window. You secretly hope that’s you and your husband in 40 years. You smile as you press on til finally, finally, you make it to the farmers market.
And half of the stalls are packing their goods away.
Damn it! You’re too late.
You scan the aisles and are surprised you don’t see more produce. It’s too early, you tell yourself. You have to wait a few more weeks for juicy peaches, fat tomatoes and ears of corn. Still—you’re here for rhubarb. The whole point was to get rhubarb for a crostata recipe you’ve been dying to try. You pass a bread stall, a table full of cheese, an array of microgreens. Omg—the place where your dog went to puppy school has a stall here! They’re so nice but the market closes soon and you can’t do small talk right now—walk faster, avert your eyes!
Ok, coast is clear (phew).
Finally, you spot a stall with produce…and rhubarb! You pick up a few stalks. Some are red, some are green. Are the green ones good? You could ask, but decide against it. You don’t want to be the dumb dumb who asks how to pick ripe rhubarb, but they probably wouldn’t be here if they weren’t ripe. You pay $4 for your haul. The cashier compliments your outfit. Slay. That alone makes the trip worthwhile.
Everyone now is packing up and you start your 10 mile journey back to the car. You pass screaming children, packed restaurants, people celebrating birthdays with balloon bundles and party dresses.
You wish you could be the kind of person who thrives in a busy shopping area with a farmers market in the parking lot, but you are an ✨overstimulated queen!✨ And you’re low key spiraling!
You clutch your $4 rhubarb and finally reach your car. You imagined you’d be relaxed and happy, but instead you’re feeling fried and slightly manic (hehe).
You arrive home to a half sleeping husband on the couch, watching Conclave (naturally). Instead of skipping to the kitchen to start your crostata, you unleash a healthy amount of expletives about traffic and people walking too slow before heading upstairs to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. The crostata can wait. Silence and coziness is needed before doing anything else. You sigh, close your eyes and promptly fall asleep for an accidental Saturday nap. You dream about the 9am market, when the stalls are untouched and the aisles are free. The early birds know better—you’ll get there next time, no need to fret.
There’s a whole summer worth of farmer’s markets ahead, anyway. 🤍
My loves!
This essay tumbled out of me last week—a handwritten jumble of thoughts and mess. I’ve started another round of The Artists Way and I’m so thrilled to be doing it. The last time was probably around 15 years ago (!!!) and I got about halfway through it. It’s a 12 week creativity course and I’m already feeling so much shifting. Have you done The Artists Way? I’d love to hear about your experience! I really wanted my farmer market experience to be magical, and well… this is what really happened. It all came out in my morning pages 😂
I also did end up making the crostata—it’s an Ina recipe, of course, and it turned out so well! It’s definitely not an overly sweet dessert, which I enjoy. The rhubarb makes it tart, and it would be a great addition to brunch. You can find the recipe here!
Anyway, happy May! I’m celebrating my birthday (which is on the 23rd) all month long and plan on hosting intimate gatherings a few times over the next few weeks. I’m fully embracing being an ✨overstimulated queen✨ and choosing to relish intimate dinner parties over big gatherings with lots of people. I have two friends coming over tomorrow for Met Gala Monday, and we’ll be enjoying caviar and cosmopolitans 🥰 So fun! Thank you, as always, for being here and reading. See you next week!
xx, Kristen
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Happy May! I LOVED this post. It encapsulates everything. I have been watching at somewhat local farmers markets begin to open for the season again and even went to one about a half hour away just because I really wanted the feeling of farmers market season again. It was crowded, cold, slightly drizzling, and we too had to park in a parking garage a bit away which definitely changes the vibe a bit. Still, can't wait until all the markets begin to open and the sun is out for one hopefully soon.
Are you liking The Artist's Way so far? I am still debating if I should/want/how to go about doing it myself since I think it could probably do me and my writing life a lot of good.
I think I may also be an Overstimulated Queen! I have been known to rant for far too long about People Walking Too Slow (gawdammit!). That sounds like an exhausting adventure, Kristen, but worth it for that yummy looking dessert! I love rhubarb.
I've posted pics of "our" cracker dip, with kudos to you! What a stupendous success! My "secret-izer" is the most popular thing I've ever taken to Winesday in 20 years! Thank you again for sharing - I've passed the recipe along to everyone I know!