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National Pumpkin Day 2024

The very heart of October is the jolly orange squash that we turn into breads, pies, soups and even 🎃. Let’s get rolling on National Pumpkin Day.

The Frost Is On The Pumpkin

Let’s be honest: you can’t celebrate fall without it’s leading role – pumpkin! You can incorporate this flavor of the season in so many ways, from candles to lattes, pies to decorations. ~Rachel Hollis

That’s about as true as true can get. October and 🍂Autumn🍂 in general are all about the pumpkins.

Whole, carved, seeded and pureed, baked into bread or rolls or pies, however you like it, the pumpkin is one of the primary iconic symbols of the season.

I’m not all that fond of orange, of all colors, but the annual explosion of all things pumpkin can’t help but bring a smile to my face.

For Pete’s sake, it’s just one squash among many. And yet, it’s the big round harbinger of all things 🍂Fall🍂.

As soon as these jolly orange symbols of my favorite season start turning up everywhere, I know it’s the best time of the year.

Cooler weather means better clothes, better sleep, better food, less perspiration and no more bugs. Who can ask for anything more?

Something interesting about the humble pumpkin is that it is originally American. This particular squash was only found here before Columbus crossed the Atlantic.

In this modern age of global commerce and ubiquitous travel, one could happily grow or attempt to grow our lovely orange pumpkins in any corner of the Old World.

Heck, even some of my favorite supervillains embrace the simple joy of the pumpkin. Green Goblin started with the pumpkin bombs and Hobgoblin cribbed from him. There’s even Jack O’ Lantern. They may be sinister, cold-blooded killers, but there’s something inherently fun about pumpkins even as grenades or villain masks.

The Incredible, Edible Pumpkin?

Many Different Uses For Pumpkins!

While most people know about pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and possibly even pumpkin rolls, there are other uses for this jolly orange squash.

There’s pumpkin soup, pumpkin curry, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin chili and even pumpkin burgers. Pumkins can be savory!

Needless to say, there’s all the Pumpkin Spice (which actually contains no pumpkin, it’s meant to enhance the flavor of pumpkin pie).

Even in my forced dietary austerity, there is still Pumpkin Spice…

Sit On A Pumpkin?

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau

I guess if you had one of those enormous, prize-winning pumpkins and it was either upside down or the stem was sawed down to prevent unfortunate circumstances, I’d happily sit on a pumpkin as well.

I’m no fan of crowds. That’s why I take such joy in my chosen careers.

As a computer guy and a writer, being here on my cozy little couch with nobody around but my wife, my doggie and my fluffy cat, life couldn’t be much better.

Poor Thoreau needed to retreat to Walden Pond to find his quiet place. Some people need that sort of getaway.

I live away. I am away. As an introvert, I have pretty much always been away.

If you’ve ever heard of the idea of being alone in a crowded room, it’s usually framed as a bad thing.

For me, it was more of a kind of Zen escape from the oppression of a throng. I can generally do just fine among crowds, because I’m not entirely there.

Mentally, I’m someplace quiet and reclusive where I can be by myself and hold things at arm’s length.

How else can anyone really get anything done?

Some people misunderstand. They think that being an introvert is to be stand-offish or unsociable.

In fact, it’s not that at all. Introverts recharge in solitude and quiet. They draw power from inside themselves. Introvert comes from the Latin “intro” inward and “vert” facing.

By contrast, an extrovert is “outward facing”. They draw their power from social dyamics, group activities and buzz. They thrive on crowds and clubs and parties.

That ain’t me. I’d do just fine as a hermit as long as the Amazon guy could still reach me.

I’d love to report that Leo and Grace are going along swimmingly, but I’m not getting it done like I’d wanted to. It’s a bit frustrating. By the time I have time to write, I haven’t the energy.

Well, I need to find the time and energy because I’m still stuck on December 4th in the story and I need to break through. 🦃 Thanksgiving 🥧 is coming…

Of course, no post on pumpkins would be complete without a reference to Punkin Chunkin’.

Punkin Chunkin 2023