My friend Amol is the biggest fan of Three’s Company.  He acted out almost every scene while we were studying Econ 101 in the Hill Building our Freshman year at Penn.  He would have died if he was behind my booth today, and he would have acted like a typical tourist from Minnesota if he saw one of the original actors at my booth.

I thought Mother’s Day was going to be dead at the Malibu Farmers Market, but low and behold Suzanne Summers (aka Cindy from Three’’s Company) came by and bought 2 bars of chocolate – Almonds +  Sea Salt & Cherries + Almonds + Black Peppercorns.  I wasn’t quite sure if it was her, but it was confirmed when one of the vendors from the olive oil stand came by and said, “Suzanne Summers totally raved about your chocolate and told us we have to come by and taste it!”  I was super excited!

When I saw her coming by my booth today, I immediately yelled out “Hi Suzanne!” and it slowly died to a small whisper as I hit the last letters of her name.  I was shocked to find myself calling her by first name as if she was my long last pal.  She came by and told me, “We went to Toronto and we made the chocolate + cheese + bread recipe.  We put the chocolate on a piece of bread, toasted it, put some cheese, prosciutto, and figs and it was divine!”  She then bought the Almonds + Sea Salt.  I told her the batch turned out really well this week, and she walked away and smiled.  She’s a very nice lady and so supportive of the farmers market.

To top of the starry day, a guy in a baseball cap came by my booth as I was helping another customer.  I quickly asked him if he wanted to try the Mayan Tradition.   He said “no”.  I was a bit annoyed, because he wasn’t following my tasting order and actually messing it up.  He said he wanted to taste the seasonal blend of Pear + Vanilla.  I gave him a piece and then focused my attention on the other customers.  He mumbled something like, “I kinda want to taste the Coffee + Vanilla.”  After finishing with the other customers, I gave him a piece and he looked up and said, “I’ll be right back”.  It was Edward Norton from Fight Club & American History X!  He bought 3 bars:  Almonds + Sea Salt, Coffee + Vanilla, Cherries + Almonds + Black Peppercorns.  He said he would give them as gifts! Awesome!!!

The day started off really hectic.  I hit my head on the canopy as I was setting up at another market.  Now I have a big welt.  An employee was really late,  and I was about to cancel the Malibu Market.  But the stars were aligned – no pun intended – and the day ended pretty well I must say.

And Amol…..he would have just fainted if he saw Suzanne.  I’m not going to tell him I saw her for fear that he might tell me to get her autograph and a picture.  What a tourist.

- Patricia