The Ninth Inning

Davar Iran Ardalan, Senior Producer

In early September, author and garlic farmer Chester Aaron emailed me and asked me to consider a program that focuses on the lives of seniors. "One neighbor," Chester wrote, "a fisherman, 80 years old, kept his family going by continuing to fish. He died last week. His children and grandchildren had a wake. The tributes, by fishermen and wives, would have broken your heart but also given you hope."

I was intrigued and over the course of the fall, we began reviewing essays and considering interesting seniors to feature. Today, as part of our series "The Ninth Inning," you will hear the story of Chester Aaron himself. I came to know Chester back in August of 2001, when NPR's Lisa Simeone and I traveled to Occidental, California to meet him. We were reporting on a story about garlic and had just attended the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. Chester, who is an organic garlic farmer, spoke of the dark days ahead for domestic growers.

Over the years, Chester has graced us with wonderful stories. He spoke to NPR's Steve Inskeep about his father's Russian Root Soup. And he shared his recipes for "Stuffed Grilled Trout" and "Cold Almond-Garlic Soup" with Liane Hansen and offered a cure for garlic breath.

Next week, as part of the Ninth Inning series, Liane will speak with Dorothy Toy Fong, also known as the Chinese Ginger Rogers, who at the age of 91 is still dancing.

Want to share your life story with us? Post it here and we might invite you to the show.

8:38 AM ET | 01- 4-2009 | permalink

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