Gratitude Monday: Carved pumpkins

As we crank our way toward Halloween, I’m feeling grateful for the holiday, for the opportunity to be a little silly under guise of bowing to societal norms.

Viz.: carving a pumpkin to put in a front window and giving out candy to young persons who might come to my door. I’ve even got a costume in mind for the latter, courtesy of some of the swag from the GHC conference.

For the first time in years, I’m physically located to do that. (Last year I was in a no-kids, secured high-rise, and for the previous five years I was in a third-floor walk-up.)

I bought my pumpkin at a local church—it was somewhat more expensive than, well, anywhere else (except possibly Whole Foods), but all the money is split between local charities and the Navajos who grew them. I also invested in actual pumpkin-carving tools, which turned out to be a lot easier to use than the paring knives and large spoon I’ve deployed in the past.

After printing out a number of potential stencils, and checking the Internet for instructions and videos, I had a go. I don’t do jack o’ lantern faces, either happy or scary. In the past I’ve carved flames and an owl; this year I went for a symbol of transformation. I think I need more practice, but see if you can recognize it.