If my father saw a blind man stranded at the curb of a busy intersection, he would stop his car in the middle of traffic and, unconcerned by honking horns and screaming motorists, get out and lead the blind man across the street.

If the season and the urge were upon him, a simple apple, grape or orange was never thrilling enough. Once, to my mother’s everlasting consternation, he brought home an entire banana tree, spiders inclusive.

On other happy occasions, we were inundated with coconuts! With pomegranates!