Little Pumpkins

So boooooooooooo went the wind and out went the light

It’s early this October morning and the sun is beginning to illuminate my beloved yellow house. Huckleberry sniffs the air as the fall breeze blows in a slight chill and a layer of tangible magic coats the world like morning dew. You can feel it there in the settling of your bones, the cozing of your core; autumn has arrived.

There is a hopeful peace that comes with fall. An acknowledgment of a cycle coming to an end. At the precipice of a frigid and dreary winter there is one last ember of warmth. One last season of acknowledging that all must end but the hope of knowing everything will find its way back again. 

Even Mother Nature decorates for such an occasion. The trees take part with their yellow, orange and deep red leaves that twirl and gracefully float like ballerinas as they make their descent to the grass. The crisp crunch of them under boots play the symphony of harvest. Orb spiders display their elaborate lacy homes. Heavy ripe pumpkins grow fat on the vine waiting to be picked and set on display. 

The whole earth comes together in preparation for the wondrous night that soon approaches. For on October 31st the veil gets lifted and us humans get a glimpse of the magic that is hiding all around us. A night that turns ordinary children into witches and pirates, superheroes and fairies. On this night doormats come to life with screeches and something is always moving in the shadows. It’s a night when stars align and adventures begin. A night when the man on the moon winks down at all that’s below and you know anything is possible. 

You can feel the shift as the cool breeze sweeps in. When there is fun in the fright and the unknown is no longer scary. When you purposefully seek out the mysterious and the delicious terror is more delectable than the candy given out on doorsteps. 

Here outside with my little furry dog I take a deep breath and close my eyes. All my most precious memories fill my mind. Memories of decorating for Halloween, trick or treating, going to pumpkin patches, trading candy with friends, watching Halloween movies, pumpkin carving, and the excitement of picking out a costume. 

But the clearest memory is of me dressed as a pumpkin and my Mom walking with me and holding my hand as she began to sing “Five Little Pumpkins”. 

“Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said “Oh my it’s getting late.”

The second one said “There are witches in the air!”

The third one said “But we don’t care!”

The fourth one said “Let’s run and run and run!”

The fifth one said “I’m ready for some fun.”

So boooooooooooo went the wind and out went the light

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.”