The Beet Goes On: Essays on Friendship & Breaking New Ground

By Susan Troccolo

A Gift of Friendship ...
If you’ve ever wrestled with the realities of growing older, fallen into a funk after a health scare or struggled to grow your own vegetables, Susan Troccolo’s The Beet Goes On, is for you.
Troccolo’s wise and hilarious essays are like taking a road trip with your best friend. This book has it all: aging with moxie and humor, reflections on friendship, and what it means to be human.
In the title essay, Troccolo celebrates growing one measly beet only to find she has to fight with her dog over the hot-pink, buttery beet when it falls on the floor.
In “Katie and the Blue Buddha”, Troccolo rediscovers the best reason for old friends.
These escapades and more are waiting for you in The Beet Goes On, a not-to-be-missed journey of the heart.

Susan Troccolo's collection makes a perfect gift for your mother, sister, best friend.

"Having Susan Troccolo's words at your side is like spending a day with your best friend--you laugh, cry, and embrace the joy of somebody who knows you inside and out. What a priceless treasure!"
~ Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

“It’s not often that I find a book that makes me laugh, brings a tear to my eye, and gives me food for thought all at once. I will never again eat a beet without picturing one on the floor about to be attacked, or say “yes” when I mean “no.”
~ Marilyn McFarlane, Author, Sacred Stories: Wisdom from World Religions
"Simple, elegant, funny, charming. She has a zest for life that is inspirational."
~ Library Thing/The 50 Book Challenge

"When I read the page that began: "I want to tell you about what I have discovered and what I will likely need when I get old...beauty and stillness and some intelligent conversation from the heart," I picked up the phone and started reading to my best friend's answering machine.
~ Annie Bloom's Books

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Troccolo
• Release date: Aug 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9780996140324

Susan Troccolo

Susan Troccolo loves telling stories, especially humor and gardening essays for her blog: "Life. Change. Compost." She writes for "Culinate," "Open to Hope," and "Lighthearted Travel" and her essays have appeared in "Voicecatcher" and "Northwest Women's Journal". Susan lives with her husband, Patrick, and Fly, a love bully of a Border Collie, in Portland, Oregon.

Book preview

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© 2015 by Susan Troccolo. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

The Summer Day from the volume HOUSE OF LIGHT by Mary Oliver, published by Beacon Press, Boston

Copyright © by Mary Oliver, used herewith by permission of

the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency, Inc.

Book design by: Joel Friedlander

Editor: Hannah Wallace

Book Consultant: Judith Briles

Publisher: Five Peppers Publishing  

ISBN: 978-0-9961403-0-0

For Jenny and Jill

Contents

Introduction

The Beet Goes On

Katie and the Blue Buddha

Idle and Blessed

Getting to No

Introduction

There is an old East African tribal legend that says when a young woman becomes aware of her desire to conceive a baby, she goes into the forest alone for many nights and days, or until she hears the song of her unborn child. Sometimes a tree teaches her the song, sometimes an animal, but in any case, she knows it comes from the spirit world. After listening deeply to the uniqueness of that song and learning it well, she leaves the forest and teaches it to the man who will be the father of their child. During their lovemaking, they sing the song, inviting the child to join them. They sing it often to the growing baby in the womb. At the moment of birth, the old women and midwives of the village welcome the baby into the world with the child’s own song of recognition and love. As the child matures, the refrain accompanies him or her at important stages of life: at moments of triumph or pain, in rituals, and at marriage. When finally the time comes for the man or woman to die, loved ones gather around the deathbed and sing one final time. Then the song is not heard again; the earth takes it back.

When I first heard this legend, I thought for a long time about what it would mean to have my own song—to belong and to be unique at the same time. The deepest appeal this idea holds for me is that of being known, being seen, and being acknowledged by the people who care about me. It represents a recognition of the spirit behind the material self, the spirit that quickens life. Having your own song also means that the people who make up your world recognize something fundamental at the core of who you are, and they name it. How frightening and gratifying at the same time! Gratifying because, I believe, all human beings long to be seen. Frightening because being seen makes us vulnerable.

Years ago, I wrote a book for my family and close friends in that open place of vulnerability.  It was called Growing Down Stories. The book is dedicated to Jill, my younger sister. This past July, soon after Jill died of a long illness, I decided to write another book, this time a larger book of stories. Since