We walk among you, but you do not see us. We are your neighbors, but you do not know us. We work with you, but you do not respect us. We are the silent majority, the undervalued and underrepresented, the stoic and strong. We are the people who buy Red Delicious apples, and we are done living in the shadows.
We are the ghosts of the grocery store, the mythical spirits of the supermarket. You do not want to acknowledge that we exist, but we are real, and we have the power to dictate the apple economy. How else would you explain the presence of Red Delicious at every grocer across the nation, despite their disgusting flavor and penchant for bruising?
What you will never understand is that we like them that way. Their bruising is a reminder of the precious fragility of life. What, would you prefer to live in a world where apples don’t bruise? What a privileged, plasticized existence you must lead. Let me guess: You also despise potholes and shin splints.
Red Delicious reflect the truth that life is a struggle, a challenge worth overcoming. Because if you can make your way through an entire Red Delicious, you can accomplish anything.