A Gratitude for Grapes

My recent post mentioned the climate here as not being
suitable for grapes. But the ones in the picture came
from my mother's garden. She lives in a hill-town
(that's where I grew up) more than 300kms away. It's
cooler there so the elements are kinder to some plants
that need a milder climate.
To anyone from a grape-growing country, this would be
nothing to rave about but back in the 60s hardly anyone
had a vine in their back-yards. I can only think of one
person, Mr. Bazely, from whom my mother got the sapling.
And this is in a country not known for grapes! Of course,
in recent years, the state of Maharashtra has carved a niche
for itself with its extensive vineyards and production of
wine but back then, the fruit-vendors sold grapes from what
I can remember was, Kashmir. And it wasn't like having a
back-yard staple of mango, guava, Indian blackberry and
some banana trees thrown in for good measure! We loved
the clusters-green at first and then deep purple! And
fragrant too!
Every time I have these, memories of childhood come in bits
and parts. Someone did say that we are made of memories...
And I'm glad that when I look back I hear the sound of
laughter reverberating through the thread of time...and in
the aroma of a grape I find happiness!