And Then The Talk Turned To Bananas ... by auntietk
Open full image in new tab Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Sitting having lunch in Chicago on Saturday, the conversation meandered around and around, and at one point settled on bananas. An innocuous topic, you might think, but indeed, it was fraught with tension and drama!
As it turns out, Chip hates bananas. I mean, he won't eat one at gunpoint. (I'm the same way about sweet potatoes, so I totally understand.)
Then somebody said ... I don't know what ... something ... and I piped up with the tidbit of information that bananas are actually an herb.
Okay, truthfully the banana PLANT is an herb, and bananas are the fruit of an herbaceous plant. The bananas we buy in the grocery store don't actually have seeds, but they're still classified as a fruit. This has always seemed a bit like cheating to me, since seeds are one of the major ways you can tell a fruit from a vegetable, but nobody asked me, so there you go.
I thought Mark was going to have a heart attack. (Say that with a Chicago accent, and you'll see why it's a lot funnier than it sounds!) He thought I'd gone totally off the deep end with the whole "banana-as-herb" thing. If he ever stops speaking to me for any reason, it will probably be over some banana-related topic!
So while this is just an ordinary photograph (with a few filters for interest) of some very ordinary bananas (purchased this morning in a suburb of Seattle), it contains more than the promise of a good source of potassium ... it contains fond memories, and lots of love and laughter.
Don't be surprised if Mark doesn't comment on this image. He was truly traumatized by the whole banana thing, and I'm afraid the reminder will send him straight into therapy.

Comments (40)
Beautiful specimens!!! I like 'em... My wife hates 'em. I totally understand.
I remember that conversation, as a matter of fact it was brought up in a comment on one of my post, by I think Mark. LOL. I love your banana shot. Did you know that in high school athletics programs they have the kids eating two of them a day? This way should they pull a muscle they will heal faster. We go through a lot of bananas at this house.
Very creative and funny image!
I love these and eat two most days. An excellent capture of them. I must admit I hadn't heard about them being a herb either.
WOW! I still maintain that these are truly the Spawn of Satan--Dark Lord of the Unholy Taste and Dubious Texture, harbinger of stomach flutters and tongue-curdling ill ease! Bananas are evil. I heard that they're flowers, but they'll never find their way into my garden. On the other hand, this is a lovely photo. I really like the yellow color and the clarity of it. Fantastic work, and I can even recall two brown and wilted and deservingly-withered and dark bananas held at at chest level and drooping downward while the kid in question declared: "Look...National Geographic." Ah...that was such a good day, even with the topic of bananas involved. And this image gave me a good chuckle. I'll stick with eating palatable foods however, like chicken with pomegranate and walnut sauce. I'll leave the inedible things to everyone else.
Looking good!
LMAO ....too funny!! I work in produce and found your info...quite accurate!!
LOL!! A person could go bananas reading all the funny comments about this so called herb. And btw - I am going to google that herb thing now... and I sure hope I sleep tonight after I find out what is up with that. However, the image itself is proof that you all can talk about anything. Nice one, Tara!
I didn't know the Velvet Underground had reformed...again. A typical pop-cultural mash up...I've got the young Lou Reed crooning about Fem Fatals, as images of Carmen Miranda dance in my head. Bananas? Bananas! (Chip is cringing.) They're so visual. They're so yellow. So banana-y. Electrical banana, going to be a sudden craze/Electrical bananas, going to be the very next phase... (You see, I'm still under the influence of the drugs I got at the hospital last Thursday.) Unlike Chip, I actually like bananas. Banana bread totally rocks. Don't get me started on avacados, however. The thought of having to eat one sends a shiver down my spine. Ah...bananas. I still think they're a flower. Wonderful shot. It makes me wanna go eat a banana.
THis is great! (both the image and the narrative) It certanly made me think of something.........so check your mail!
Wonderful shot, Tara, they look good enough to eat! Here is my funny banana story: I love bananas, but most people eat them while they are unripe, you have to wait until they are freckled with brown spots before the sweetness come out fully. And the best banana bread is made with bananas that have a full brown skin and are almost mushy. So my husband is always trying to throw out the bananas as soon as they get a spot on them and I'm always telling him NO, yet I don't hear him refusing my banana bread.......
Banana pudding fixed right is to die for.....
I think the lunch was my favorite part of the day, that and perhaps the coffee later in the afternoon. So much joking and laughter, we got to discover everyone's most hated food and why. The banana conversation was by far the best, oh and by the way Chip, it was the Discovery channel, not National Geographic. I love bananas but once they get more than just a few spots on them, the flavor gets to be a bit much, almost overpowering, even for me.
And here I had pictured you all discussing great works of art, the form and flow of the last 100 years of Chicago architecture, the pre-historic origins of the Great Lakes...but NO, you were all into bananas:-) Well, since I like 'em sliced up on cereal and most other ways too, you are all forgiven. BTW, nigh onto a perfect photo of your topic of discussion! P.S. Went to a pumpkin field this morning with three grandsons and their parents and discovered pumpkins were fruits. I know...most people probably knew that for years...I just never thought of it before...seeds were the proof.
I'm totally with Chip on the banana issue; I think I had too many force-fed as an infant, I can't even stand the smell of them. But as far as a photograph goes, this is lovely, and I can very much appreciate their shape and color as objects!
then I gues he won't want to look at my electrical banana, will he? Great photo and interesting story
OHH MAAAN, This was so amusing reading your story, Tara HAHAHAA! And just as amusing reading the comments. I love bananas and I like them with or without spots, but they MUST be proper mature. A half green banana is yuck. This is a lovely capture. Great clarity and I can almost smell them. Good that I have bananas in my kitchen for later. Remember my extra mature bananas in my gallery? .....with spots :)
Oh gosh Tara - who could ever think you you guys could have such a debate on bananas and a banana image would evoke all the passion typed in the comments!!! Fantastic image btw!!! It sounds like Chip feel about bananas like Bruce feels about beetroot!! I missed out on so much fun... no wonder you are suffering from PTD... (you know what that means!!!)
What a great read, narrative and comments!! I like mine fried with bacon best, but like Corey I cannot believe that some people will put Avacados near their face. And a s for GARLIC..........UGGGGHHH!
Well, if the comments are any indication of the fun you guys had, it as sounds very a-peel-ing! For me banana bread is great, though heartburn and aftertaste of the herb does not entice any space between the apples in my fruit bowl! Great subjects and postwork, Clive
ROTFLMAO!! OMG, I SO remember this whole conversation. I've never heard so much about so many things people don't like to eat. I mentioned it to my brother in law about bananas being herbs and he was BAM!! on the computer looking it up. Ok, I HATE cooked peas!!
cool text to this wonderful lighted and funny banana impression! ;o)
Fantastic light and colors. Excellent idea and shot.
LOL what an idea to catch this stuff! funny and original capture!
Excellent shot! :)
Love the lighting and how they look on black. I love bananas (sweet potatoes too!)
very nice story and "perfect" bananas!
wonderful photo and colours
This is fun and useful to read and the comments even more entertaining. Sound everybody remember the the banana so well. Good story.
looool, oh my Tara, just love your little story