b'as a little boy, i was a terrible student. often my teachers caught me daydreaming, flying, in my head, over wonderful scenery in a faraway land, like an absent-minded little urchin. i was more adept at the art of dreaming than the reality of studying. all i could think about was summertime and playing all day in the clear blue water of palermos Mondello beach. school was just a minor inconvenience while i waited for the promise of a new summer and my days at the beach.The warm days in June confirmed the start of the new season and the arrival of straw-berries. They were everywhere: on street corners, at the market, in the pastry shops and in the cart of the ice cream man who used to visit our neighborhood. strawberries for me were a symbol of freedom, of long days, short nights and an endless sequence of moments that joyfully fell into each other, frolicking and rolling along like something out of a beautiful dream.i love strawberries because they evoke fond memories of a wonderful childhood. i love strawberries because every time i eat one, i feel young again. i realize that all i dreamt of when i was a little boy has come true in my adult life and that those things have nothing to do with money but everything to do with the enthusiasm of my youth, which is perpetuated in every action i take in the pursuit of my dreams.i still love to daydream, and in spite of the occasional harshness of reality, i choose to live with the illusion of a better outcomemoving forward, always forward, never at rest and always in search of one more adventure before summer comes to an end. To me, life is like playing at the beach in summertime with my friends while chomping on fresh strawberriestaking big bites, savoring juices that are pungently sweet and slightly tart yet full of flavor. strawberries are a taste of life that makes my heart beat with the optimism of a child dreaming of summer.Whether im prepared for it or not, trouble can come barreling down at any time and from any quarter, but im not running away; i am old enough to know that there is always something better around the corner. Life is beautiful, and a ripe strawberry in summertime is the perfect reminder of all that it can be. yes, it is true; i love strawberries.136'