Honesty

    According to the lyrics of Billy Joel's song,
"Honesty is such a lonely word."
   And,  to be sure, we were alone when our
afternoon ride took us to Lewis's Orchards
along a rural road in what I believe was
Kingston Township.
    The produce display set in the midst of
the beautifully colored Autumn leaves looked
like a scene Norman Rockwell would have
stopped to capture on canvass were he to have
happened by.
    There were pumpkins, corn cobs, corn stocks,
 and, of course, a wide variety of apples ready
for snacks or apple pies.
     But something was missing. There was no
clerk! No salesman to talk us into buying more
than we wanted. There was no one there to take
our money! 
    For some years now, I don't know exactly how
 many, this road side stand has operated on the
 "Honesty system!" You pick the items you want,
place them in bags which are available on a shelf,
and then leave your money (all prices are marked)
in a small locked money box that's set up on a
counter. Of course if you want change you're out
of luck.
     But everything seems priced so that anyone with
a handful of one's and, perhaps, a five in their wallet
can leave with a nice bag of produce!
     I've got to believe a cheater may stop by from
time to time. But I'd be willing to bet most people
pay for what and maybe even leave an extra dime or
two now and then!
     The fact that I first found this place a couple years
ago and see it's still here gives me a really good
feeling. It won't make the headlines. But, in my mind
it's a "people story" that's really worth telling!
     Hope it's around for many years to come...and that
all of your NEWS, like this, is good!