On this Sunday morning at the farm, the sun is shining through white, puffy, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet. Garden side a camp fire is going and a truckload of white pumpkins has just been unloaded and placed on an old trailer garden side. They have just returned from a wedding reception last night. Most of the pumpkins are naked in their smooth white enameled dress, a few of them are dressed in white mesh. This is there last visit to the farm yard until they head off to the homes of special people for Halloween. I laugh as we unload the beauties. I take a break for some fresh brewed egg coffee in the kitchen and find the wood stove working hard. She says, “I am preparing for the agony and ecstasy of Halloween.” Oh my. She goes on. “In 1961 Irving Stone wrote ‘Agony and Ecstasy” about the life and work of Michelangelo and Pope Pius II. In 1965 it was made into a movie starring Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison.” Oh the old girl has her history down and the memories of the book and movie--just great. But I wonder what the hell does this have to do with white pumpkins and Halloween? She says, “Sometimes I think you are real dense.” Well, I have heard that before. But she explains herself. “Your white pumpkins celebrated at a wedding party last night. Some of them returned to the farm dressed in white mesh, but most of them were naked. I sense they had a high old time.” “But in life we can’t fully appreciated the high times in life unless we experience the tough times. So today, I’m making blood soup for you to serve to your guests on Halloween. They get great treats only on the condition that they drink a cup of blood soup before their treat.” Oh my. I know the wood stove makes great borsch and for Halloween she calls it blood soup to tease the kids. Actually it is delicious with shredded beets, onions, and herbs and more in a savory vegetable broth. And she makes great pickled beets as well--she is cooking right now. Before I can compliment the old wood stove on her cooking, she continues, “Now I want you to carve some of those white pumpkins and pour some blood soup into them until it trickles out of their lips, nose, and eyes. That should scare the young kids when they come to visit.” Oh my. The old wood stove leaves me speechless--momentarily. In one sense I know the old wood stove understands we have excess white pumpkins and red beets and is just trying to help me with marketing. In another sense she has an understanding of history with Michelangelo and Pope Pius II. But perhaps her most important lesson is that life provides us with both agony and ecstasy and to more fully appreciate the ecstasy, we have to go through some agony. And so today, I hope you are experiencing some ecstasy, but if agony is your lot for the day? Just remember that any challenges, troubles, or agony that you are experiencing today, will lead to ecstasy soon. Why? Your best days are ahead of you. And today, the white pumpkins at the farm are wishing you the best as am I.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 15:39:48 +0000
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