The short story ‘Cravings’ by Maggie O’Farrell and ‘The Rumination on What isn’t’ by Alex Shvartsman are two fabulous short stories, the passion for which gradually sedimented in my heart over the years. It facinates me how time developed for me personally and anchored these two stories permanently to my deep taste for literature, an acquired taste I could say. Only time and personal development can shape what would become permanent for an individual and what would be temporary. When you begin to like something, you cannot know at first for how long you will remain with the liking. Many likings fade over the years, and only few remain with an individual. ‘Cravings’ by Maggie O’Farrell was one of two reasons I became interested in lettuce and planting it. The second reason I cannot disclose for personal reasons but might do in the future when I feel secure. The role and description of lettuce in this story made me think about this simple plant sometimes and had me approach it with interest once in a while. From knowing it as a ‘simple plant,’ I gradually changed in subconscious perception to see it as a ‘beautiful plant.’ I believe there is hidden magic in lettuce, a delicate force that cannot affect and attract everyone at a random stage in life. The passion for lettuce is something that can appear from nowhere and affect a person if they are in a particular state of mind, situation in life, or mode of personal development. My rumination on lettuce through ‘Cravings’ was intermittent until the thought and the image of lettuce grew stronger each time I revisited the story, or when not revisiting it but simply ruminating on the story. I read the story for the first time in 2012. Now as I am writing this memoir in the March of 2024, I am 33 years old. I could not have written this earlier. Of this I am certain. It fascinates me that the author of ‘Cravings’ was 33 years old when she wrote this story. Maybe some people begin to understand the beauty of lettuce when they reach this particular age. I am fascinated in multiple ways. Thank you, Maggie O’Farrell, for writing this story.

The short story was published in Harpers & Queen in 2005. The same year saw the name of the magazine change to Harper’s Bazaar. The following piece was scanned from the magazine.