Ahhh, the Great Pumpkin! Remember the famous story by Charles Schultz? Linus sits up wide-eyed agonizing all night under the stars–in the dark chilly pumpkin patch–faithfully waiting, waiting, waiting for the wonderful Great Pumpkin to appear. Sorta like Santa appears on Christmas.
It is a story of great faith on Halloween. Many say that, “Linus’s interpretation of Halloween renders the Great Pumpkin a symbol of hope and expectation.” And I ALWAYS wanted Linus’ Great Pumpkin to appear. I really, really did. I wanted the miracle to happen.
Well, Linus’ envisioned Great Pumpkin never shows up. Heavy sigh! Sad, but true.
So lately, whenever I have seen this Halloween special on T.V., I have pondered, “how could Linus have averted this discouraging tragedy? How could any of us who are living with the late effects of polio (or the late effects of life), turn this story of dashed hopes, and repeatedly unmet expectations around?” Have you been waiting and waiting for something that hasn’t come? Have you sat in your proverbial pumpkin patch too long?
Well, I have! And I decided that maybe I need to quit waiting submissively for that wonder-squash to magically appear and go after what I want. Take action! Maybe I need to slightly alter my vision and create a somewhat different dream in my mind that’s more me. More possible. Maybe even more interesting. Don’t change it completely, just tweak it a little. And then do something. Go after it!
So yesterday, here’s what I did…I took expectations into my own hands and went to my kitchen. There I created a new pumpkin…it’s not The Great Pumpkin, but it’s my pumpkin…do-able…likeable…
It’s the…
“GRAPE PUMPKIN!”
_______________________________________-
And so, it is in the spirit of enjoyment,
merry -making and
The Grape Pumpkin
that
I wish you a very
Happy Halloween!
Thanks for Reading,
Sunny
P.S. Here’s a Great Pumpkin Soup recipe
you may want to try this season…
From my friend, Susan.
4 cups mashed pumpkin
1 quart chicken broth
2 T orange zest
1/4 teaspoons each cinnamon and nutmeg
2 T fresh grated ginger root
1/2 to 1 cup of orange juice (or juice of 1 orange)
Salt / pepper to taste
Let simmer in a crock pot.
P.P.S. Weight loss update: Well, I checked in with my doctor yesterday, who read my blood test results.
Gulp. I was nervous.
She said that after losing 11.5 lbs., my liver is back to normal, and my glucose is down. No medication needed! Yahoo! It can be done!
Next she told me to lose another 10 lbs. by May 1st. So I’m not quitting! ( I think I still slightly resemble our friend, the Great Pumpkin, when I see my profile in a mirror.)
She said that I must vigilantly track my food for the next 30 days in a row, especially since the holidays are coming up. Okay. And that I might want to try a little light weight-lifting to help me lose more weight. She said studies prove that that can help. (What have you read about that for folks with the late effects of polio? Anything?)
She also said that I can tell all you guys she is WAY PLEASED with the progress, so far.
Thanks so very much for your
help and support!
Great blog Sunny! I appreciate your reflection and resolve to tweak the dream, take a different approach. It is easy to get bogged down with discouragement. Your resolve is inspiring to the rest of us – to re-engage – albeit differently at times.
As my grandma used to say, “Life is a NEVER-ENDING series of adjustments.”
Congratulations on your progress. As a roadracer for 12 years, my shoulders have gotten the better of me. I have a rickshaw exerciser at home but use it very cautiously now. I am not a fan of weight training for losing weight, but feel it can add weight. Just ‘range of motion’ is enough for me.
Thank you! I wonder if anyone else feels the same way?
Sunny, that was a great story! Thanks. I have used caloriecounter.com to keep track of nutrition and calorie intake on a daily basis. You might find it helpful in reaching your goal by May. Good luck with that. I look forward to following your blog. Wishing you well. ML
Many thanks for this idea.
Did get a kick out of the pumpkin though. Loved the hair.
Enjoyed hearing about the liver is back to normal. Looking forward to trying the soup. I don’t know about the grape pumpkin though. It looks like something I might have done and I thought you were were better at art at Groves?
About Linus’ Great Pumpkin —
But of course the Great Pumpkin does appear every year in Linus’ world. It’s on everyone’s door step, in every fresh produce stand, and in every farmer’s pumpkin patch. Just so typical in Linus’ world as a tot where he guards his blanket so closely, not yet able to realize that Great Pumpkins are right around the corner, waiting to become the Grape Pumpkins and all the other imaginations of our creative, competent, clever, and cherished beings. A healthy reminder to us grownups — thanks Linus!
Our Great Pumpkins are everywhere, and really close by. I love it!
Dear Sunny, Congratulations!
Hope and faith, can motivate you to work really, really hard to meet a ‘spectacular goal’. And that is what you have done. Thanks for the great tips from your doctor for us all — exercise, diet, weights, etc. And writing down everything we eat to keep on track. A great recipe. Also thanks for including my pumpkin soup recipe; hope everyone likes it. Much love, Susan