Halloween is a big deal in my neighborhood, houses have to be decorated and welcoming to every trick or treater. All the kids on my street would dress up to go to my neighbors houses for the pumpkin carving contest and let me tell you it was a competition. We would come running with our printed out patterns and pumpkins already cleaned out. I remember my neighbor telling us all to wait for everyone to get to their stations as little voices yelled over her, “she’s cheating, he stole my paper, Ms. Cindy, I don't have any tools to cut my pumpkin!” My neighbor was so patient with all of us and made sure we had everything we needed.
“Everyone ready”, as she would start the countdown. FIVE as we all glanced at each other intensely. FOUR to make sure no one was grabbing their tools before we were supposed to. THREE sweat would start dripping, nearves started to kick in. TWO small smirks started turning into huge smiles as the competition was going to start in seconds. ONE and before the parents could even blink we were tearing through our pumpkins.
It was like a battlefield pumpkin pieces being thrown, the dollar store tool kit we all had started breaking, kids started stealing tools, it was madness. The winner always seemed to be the kid who could get through the craziness, but let's just say no kid has everyone in the pumpkin competitions becases just as the tears and frustration filled the kids eyes the parents would always step in to finish the job. Us kids would play out in the street until our pumpkins were finished.
Yes these pumpkins were so beat up, some missing teeth, others looking like a pumpkin with a big hole in it, but we were all so proud of our pumpkin and claimed ours with no hesitation. Now came the judes. We all sat in the grass eyes squinted and fingers crossed hoping Ms. Cindy would call our name. The winners were always the big kids in high school and us little kids thought it was so cool how they all won.
This pumpkin carving competition tradition still goes on today and it's one of my favorite memories of Halloween becases when October 31 rolls around the corner each of us “little kids” show up and laugh about how seriously we took the competition.
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Pumpkin carving is such a classic Halloween activity. This seems like so much fun and something to remember even as you get older. I’m really glad you have this experience that really fuels the Halloween spirit! Good Job Izzy! Keep up the great work :)
ReplyDeleteHi Izzy
ReplyDeleteI love your post about your Halloween memories and traditions. Your piece is so well written and descriptive and really encompasses the moment. I would love to have a tradition of carving pumpkins like yours, I love your line “It was like a battlefield pumpkin pieces being thrown, the dollar store tool kit we all had started breaking, kids started stealing tools, it was madness.” Its so funny and so true about the dollar store tools as we all buy them but they always are a struggle to use.
Izzy, I really like your descriptive piece about yur experiences with halloween and pumpkin carving, it really brings back to a lot of childhood memories. Also the images you put out really made my da
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