Adam and his ideas...
We started the custom five years ago when we lived near the banks of the Stillaguamish River. Adam and our children sent the pumpkin away. A tradition was born.
This year, since Mark had his very own pumpkin, he was a little unsure he wanted to send it down the river. He vacillated between thinking it was really cool and really tragic. Before we left, I heard him confiding in his stuffed animals in his room.
"OK guys, I'm sending my pumpkin down the river. I know, I'm sad too. But it's going to be AWESOME!!!"
We slipped into the dark river park which we were pretty sure closed at dusk and it was past dusk.
Every kid had a pumpkin.
Almost every kid.
Adam and Eric lit candles inside each pumpkin.
And they were released to the river and the Puget Sound and eventually the Pacific Ocean. Is pumpkin a delicacy for fish? There might be some happy fish out there.
The floating lanterns didn't work so well. Mostly they filled with water and cries of excitement fizzled with the wet candles. (And yes, Adam and Eric are already scheming about how they can make the pumpkins work better next year.) About the time Adam decided it might be more fun if he hurled a lit pumpkin into the river instead of gently releasing it, the park ranger showed up. He was shining his spotlight down on the dock at this loud group of people pitching things into the river in the dark. I don't think it looked very good.
Adam walked up the dock and explained our actions. The park ranger came down and shined his light in the eager faces of our children and into the dark river dotted with orange floating orbs. He said, "I have never seen anyone do this before."
He should hang out with Adam more.
He left us to it. I'm not sure he knew what else to do having neither the authority or enough handcuffs to haul us all away.
My only regret of the night: I didn't have the nerve (like Eric did) to capture on camera Adam explaining us to the ranger. Darn.
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