Location: Wible Road/Panama Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93307

When I first moved to Bakersfield, I discovered the wonderful little woooden strawberry stand on Panama Lane near Wible. I'm sure you know the place I mean. For four years now, I've watched this little place. I've moved away from the Southwest, but still traveled out of my way to get the fine strawberries these growers offered. "Fresh Strawberry For Sale," the sign said, and I always laughed as I pulled in. Did they only have one strawberry?

Last year (or was it the year before?) they had a fire. The little wooden shack was damaged, but not for long. I held my breath as year after year, the roads were widened and the housing developments and strip malls began to close in on the little piece of land. But somehow they survived.

Until recently.

This evening, I went out of my way on a tedious errand so that I could pass by the stand. It was demolished; just a pile of plywood now. Someone will burn it all up soon, so I hope to get over there with my camera tomorrow and get a few shots of what is left.

Caved in. Gone.  Soon to have never existed at all in the minds of so many!

Often I passed the stand, still open (hoorah!), with a hope and a wish (and, okay, maybe even a prayer) that the farmers would hold on to their acre or two of land in this prime location, and not "sell out."

Well, so much for good vibes.

I did stop to talk a few times with the owners....an Oriental family, I believe. One of the older men told me they had four strawberry farms -- one behind the stand, the others in outlying towns to the east and north. They would take their big old flatbed, during the season, and load up strawberries from all four plots to bring back to their little stand. Their prices went up this last year to $5 (from $4) for a  big box of the most wonderful, delicious, beautiful strawberries I have ever eaten in my life.

One day last year, I stopped by late in the day. The kid at the stand (looking frighteningly like a Sumo wrestler --I'm sure you know who I mean) said that if I waited 15 minutes, the truck would be back from the other farms with the final load of the day. I waited.

Strawberry fields forever!  I wish the family well. It's our loss.