Consider the Thought: Evolution of a Halloween Pumpkin

The Beginning

My husband and I met on Halloween. I was a gypsy fortune-teller. He claimed he was J. Robert Oppenheimer. "Oh, the nuclear guy," I replied. He thought I was brilliant (for the South). I asked him, "Are you a pilot?" "No," he replied. "Good, then you can talk to me," I said. Our auspicious beginning.

Time Passages

Ten years later we were in an hospital room three weeks too early. I knew I wasn't going home despite the test results the doctor was just bringing into the room. I started to cry. The doctor looked up from the paper he was carrying and said, "You can go home. Why are you crying?" I boohooed, "My water just broke, and I'm not ready." As if you are ever ready for children.

Eight more years later, a cowgirl with her horse and a Roman with his shield run about the darkened paths enjoying trick-or-treat with a few friends in Japan. The weather is fine though with the sunset at 16:46 p.m., my camera flash struggles to light the evening's events: trick or treaters rushing about, birthday cake chomping, and piñata bashing. On past Halloweens, we've had a baby, a pumpkin, a princess, a jack-o-lantern, a bear, a duck, a mermaid, a shark, Darth Vader, a ghoul, Indiana Jones, Totoro, the Tooth Fairy, and a few stubborn moments of refusing to wear costumes at the last minute.

This is a self-indulgent trip down memory lane, but I am happy to count my blessings. Happy Birthday!