The Ripening.
The Apotheosis. Sure, thanks to the hobby farm up the street I had fresh, home-grown tomato sandwiches last summer, but this is the first time in over 15 years that I have had some with tomatoes I grew myself. That's a single tomato, red all the way through, on toasted artisan sourdough. The first of many! You will not find its like in your grocery store's produce aisle.
This is a most apt metaphor for everything I have been working towards the last several years, and I intend to savor every bite.