Picking Persimmons From Outside the Wall

Everyone who knows Hyesuk understands she was born to rule.   Whenever we enter Korea, someone has to tell their President that he’s no longer in charge (I’m certain he’s probably scared his wife or mother will find out).  Those of you who know me also know I don’t take kindly to being bossed around.   On numerous occasions I’ve pointed out to my lovely wife that I’m not her dog (she once had a dog named Kelly) or her child.

One day, Hyesuk responded to my grumbling by sharing this story with me.  Her Mom loved persimmons, so Hyesuk bought a persimmon tree and planted it in her yard.  Years later, she was visiting with her Mom and waiting for her Dad to come home.  The tree had matured and was ripe with fruit.  Her Mom remarked, “I hope he picks the persimmons from outside the garden wall.”  She was afraid that someone walking on the road by their home would see the ripe persimmons hanging over the wall and steal them.  Later, her Dad entered the house with a handful of fruit.  The first words out of his mouth as he entered were, “I picked these persimmons from outside the wall.”

Hyesuk told me she liked that her Mom was certain what her husband was going to do. Even more, she liked that her Dad understood what was important to his wife and considered her feelings without any prompting.  The conversation ended there.

Earlier this week I saw some persimmons in the market and took them home to Hyesuk.  I told her “I picked these from outside the wall.”  When someone tells you where they keep their heart, you’re crazy not to go there sometimes.