I’m a pretty fast pumpkin from a gently small town in Michigan. You may wonder why velocity would distinguish a pumpkin but I can assure you that it most definitely does where I grew up: Montague, pop. 2361
As you probably know, most small farming communities mark time by what’s in season. For Montague it’s: apples in May, blueberries in June, cherries in July, asparagus in August and sweet corn in September.
Of course, my time to shine is in the middle of October because it’s time for the Pumpkin Roll!
And, yes, it’s a big deal! People from all over the county are elbowing each other for a prime spot around the starting line at the top of Dowling Street which swoops into town past Old Channel Trail.
The children of Montague, ages 4 to 12, gather at the top of the hill with the fastest pumpkin they could find, waiting patiently (and a bit nervously) for their turn to launch their pumpkin at the end of “On your Mark, Get Set, Go!” then chase it down the hill, exhorting their pumpkin to go “faster, faster” to ensure an accelerating but uncertain fate for their pumpkin at the finish line below.
My handler, Gretchen age seven and I (with my number 4 8 painted on both sides) slowly approach the starting line when her age group is called. We’re feeling confident of our chances . . . so confident that Gretchen merely releases me and with a shriek of joy leans back to watch me streak past the others to land in the finish line bale of hay in first place.
Unfortunately, several of my competitors finish in the metal restraining wall which means explosions of pumpkin and cheers from the crowd huddled expectantly at the bottom of the run.