This year, in May, I planted four crops on my deck. All the planting was done in oversized pots. I planted tomatoes (both cherry and Big Boys), cucumbers, green peppers and basil. Because of much rain and lots of sunshine, I had a bumper crop. Lorraine and I have eaten a homegrown tomato every morning from mid-July until today. In the evening I make an Israeli Salad - sliced and cubed tomatoes, - sliced and cubed peppers and cucumbers. Sprinkle with cut-up leaves of basil. Add lemon juice and granulated garlic and "Voila," a delicious, healthy, crunchy salad.

A bonus arrived when Lewis, my 2-1/2-year-old grandchild, visited. He loves to water the vegetables. This year he picked the crop from off the vines. "Only red ones" was his battle cry as he picked the cherry tomatoes.

In the Bronx, where I grew up, we never planted anything.

Lewis shows signs of being a great farmer just like his Pop-Pop. This in modern psychological terms is called, "male bonding." When he arrives at our home he asks immediately for the watering can.

This gives me great pleasure.

I received this email from a reader in response to my request for input. We grow in many directions.

Dear Dr. Greenberg,

Here are some ideas for your column; please forgive me if you have already done something similar. I have a few other ideas that I will send you another time.

Interview people about when they really knew they had become an adult (and relate your own story, of course!)

I think about this sometimes.... For me it was when I was 22 years old and had just come home after studying in Europe for a whole year. I met my upstairs neighbor, a boy my age, who had been too "cool" to talk to me for many years (probably since we were both 11.) While I was away I had heard that his dad had died in a horrible accident and it was very important to me that I express my condolences to him. I did and he smiled and thanked me. After that, we would always say "hello" and "how are you" to each other when we met. I remember thinking, "I guess we are adults now! Thank G-d!