The Not-So-Great Pumpkin
I’m a little late for Halloween stories, but I’d rather talk about that than Election Day. Also, I wanted Rhonda to hear this story.
Four years ago, just after we got married, Mike and I went with another couple to stay for the weekend in a log cabin in the mountains. Mike planned a lot of fun things for us to do, including a romantic dinner for the two of us on Saturday evening while the other couple went out to eat. He got flounder from the Fresh Market and made us a wonderful meal. Then our friends came back, and we all carved pumpkins together.
Looking back now, it’s obvious that what happened was that, even though we put it in a cooler, the fish did not enjoy the trip from Greensboro to the mountains. And it responded by going bad. All I knew at the time was that my stomach was very very unhappy, but I thought it was the pumpkin smell. I went out on the porch to get some air, and after a bit I felt good enough to come back inside. When I did so, I found that Mike had gotten the top of our pumpkin off, and that he was scraping out the insides.
“Look,” he said. “Our pumpkin is puking!” He then turned it over and lots of seeds and stringy disgustingness came out.
I think you can guess what happened next. The good news is that I did make it to the bathroom before losing all the fish that Mike had prepared. The bad news is that I threw up three times that night, completely ruining our romantic weekend.
This past weekend, when we stayed with our friends in Wilmington, they wanted to carve pumpkins. Mike and I bought those plastic ones that will last for years to come. Our friends carved a real pumpkin. Even though we were outside, I had a hard time with the smell. I don’t care if I am a sell-out with my plastic pumpkin (that will last for years to come). I just can’t carve real pumpkins anymore. Bleh.
November 2nd, 2004 at
that’s why I don’t eat at Shoney’s anymore.
too much pumpkin carving.
November 2nd, 2004 at
we still had a great time that weekend. it was not ruined.
November 2nd, 2004 at
That’s a cute story … in retrospect.
November 2nd, 2004 at
Pumpkins are eeeeeeeevil.
November 2nd, 2004 at
How can pumpkins be evil? You must let them defend themselves against this attack on their character!
November 2nd, 2004 at
So…Kari…what you’re REALLY trying to say here is that you want to cook some fish and carve pumpkins while we’re in Nashville?
I’m just trying to follow.
November 2nd, 2004 at
I have changed my mind. Pumpkins are not evil. Chrissy is.
November 2nd, 2004 at
Awe, Kari!
You know I love you!
November 2nd, 2004 at
pumpkins are NOT evil!
did yall dress up this year?
November 2nd, 2004 at
No, we were out of town, so we didn’t get to go to a party this year. Next year we’ll probably dress up to hand out candy.
November 2nd, 2004 at
I bet those are the kinds of memories that really make up the happiness of a marriage…not the movie-type moments.
November 2nd, 2004 at
all i want to eat in nashville is flounder and pumpkin pie! good show chrissy!
November 3rd, 2004 at
I have been wanting to hear that story. And it makes me so sad that you cannot enjoy the beauty of pumpkin carving.
Can you eat fish? I guess you guys won’t be coming to my annual pumpkin carving parties.
November 3rd, 2004 at
I will come to your party if I can bring a fake pumpkin and an air purifier. hehe.
I don’t eat flounder prepared like Mike prepared it that night. I would still eat fried flounder, though.
Scott . . . I will eat pumpkin pie, so HA!