Beautiful vegetables and luscious fruit, all anybody could talk about? The weather! We had rain this morning, of all things. It never rains in southern California, you know, and all that wet stuff on the ground was just our collective imaginations. Mutual hallucinations.

The air remained deliciously damp and fragrant, right up till about 11 a.m. and as I wandered the market, all the fragrances of strawberries and onions and freshly baked bread tickled my olfactory apparatus. Usually it's so hot at this time of year that all I can smell is dust.

The tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, squash were totally gorgeous and all organically grown. Some even specified being in compliance with California regulation such-and-so. The cherries are a bit early and a bit tart, but the nectarines were perfection.

I listened to a guitarist play and sing, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" while I shopped for avocados. That song always brings up such a rush of memories and emotion. The man looked to be about my age; I asked him if he remembered it when it was new and he said, "Sure do." That definitely puts us in the same generation.

There were dried fruits and nuts, mushrooms, range chicken eggs, flowers, knitted scarves and woven hats, popcorn, coffee, and more live music at the other end. I also found a booth that will take some books in exchange for other books (no money passing hands).

Next time I'll have to bring the basket on wheels. I couldn't carry as much as I'd have liked to have bought. And next time, I'm sure there won't be any rain. Too bad.