THE GREAT PUMPKIN

     Earlier this summer, my older son, who is four, and I decided to plant pumpkin seeds that would grow large heavy fruit. I thought we could just have the vines grow along the inside pathways. Every day we came out to the garden and my son would fill his little blue watering can and faithfully water the pumpkin seedlings.

     As early summer became mid and late summer, we found the vines becoming quite large and leafy and taking over almost all the paths. My son and I chose three good-sized pumpkins to nurture along, and I clipped off the extra vines that would have drained off some of their needed food source. Also we added a top dressing of our own compost. Late in August we found ourselves the proud gardeners of three large bright orange pumpkins.

     I began to feel a bit worried about vandalism or theft but I kept telling myself to be more Buddhist-like and have no attachments to the outcome of the pumpkin-growing season. Basically I tried to just stay happy with what is.

     The day came to harvest, and we were fortunate that no one had harmed or taken our Great Pumpkins. We measured the largest at 18 inches in diameter and the second at 15 inches and the third at 12 inches. I wheeled them in a wheelbarrow out to the car and hauled them up three flights of stairs, and now they are safe and are curing until Halloween.

     I think now how there is a similarity in the Great Pumpkin experience (i.e. in the Peanuts comic strips by Charles Schultz,) and what I would call The Great Kid experience. I guess what I mean by this is I had made a decision to become a parent or 'gardener' to two beautiful boys, my little 'pumpkins.' Linus, the Peanuts character, revered the Great Pumpkin as if it was a spiritual being, bringing home the spirit of the fall harvest. Similarly, I am looking forward someday to the Great Kid spiritual harvest of my little 'pumpkins.'

     I have been from the very beginning nurturing these two little 'pumpkins,' first with my own garden, my womb, then next with my breast milk, and now they are learning to feed themselves - and not just with food but also with the books that I read to them every night. Being the 'gardener' to these little-but-getting-bigger 'pumpkins,' I am providing lots of nutritive stimulation to their hungry minds. I wonder sometimes if I am giving them enough, but as long as they are smiling and laughing, I feel I am doing my job right. These 'pumpkins' are destined to be Great Pumpkins - Great Young Men.

Aspen Marks