It was during this time of great discomfort that she had written to the stranger on Reddit.
Dear Sir: I enjoy your posts. I am envious that you’ve found such a harvest of black locust flowers. I hear black locust emits a heavenly smell. But what do the flowers taste like? I have not seen any here at the 41st latitude. Where do you live?
Please forgive this intrusion from a stranger. After pressing send, she had moved away from her desktop. She hadn’t gotten to the kitchen sink before she heard a ping. She had a message on Reddit.
They taste like fresh spring peas drizzled with nectar.
I eat them by the handful like popcorn.
I live in Maine.
Same latitude as Vladivostok and Manchuria.
You?
— Amity Gaige, Heartwood: A Novel (Simon & Schuster, April 1, 2025)
Photo: Black Forest, Robinia Pseudoacacia. iNaturalist.
People being kind to strangers… Priceless. Think of a world where everyone tried to be this way. I suspect the world would be a far better place.
So agree with you Paul. 100%
That’s what I love about the Internet…. being in contact with kind, thoughtful, fun people I’ll never meet in the ‘flesh’ but who I love interacting with and where we can be honest and direct with each other. You are one of my ‘chosen few’. Thanks for that!
Hi Kiki. You’ve captured EXACTLY how I feel about this platform. Thank YOU.
I agree, Kiki.DK has cultivated just such a community here, filled with lovely individuals like you whom I have never met yet happily call friends. 💕
Amen to that!! Lori nails it!! ❤️
mmm, the song of a ping– can bring so much happiness. <3
So True! Have a great week!
thank you! you as well.
dear sir…
Imagine that. The ping of a notification… the “ping” it invoked in her heart. Kindness. Strangers. This blog is that platform. Thanks for including me.
the reach of a ping can travel from one heart across the globe to another
So true Beth.
How delightful. Thanks for the smile … and hope for connection and community.
Thank you Val.
Love this and know the joy of that ‘ping’ well….
How wonderful …
I agree!