The pumpkin wars

The Pumpkin Wars
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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September is here and many people's thoughts have turned to fall. One of the biggest events on social media has been the launch of all-things pumpkin spiced. Honestly I probably fall in the middle when it comes to the craze. I will drink a pumpkin beer on occasion (it's not my favorite) and I'll add some pumpkin spiced creamer to my coffee from time to time, but I don't embark in the pumpkin Oreos, Cheerios or other pumpkin infused flavors.

But somehow along the way I've found myself in a pumpkin spice war with my buddy Tom Harness and his team at Harness Digital Marketing (look them up for your online marketing needs). Although his team members Eleni and Lynsey are actually on #TeamPumpkin (like me). Because it's all taking place on social media, everyone can participate. We went from using gifs and memes that others have made to creating our own.

So share your ORIGINAL memes or gifs using the hashtag #TeamPumpkin or #PumpkinSucks and get in on the action. Here's a few of the original creations. This "war" with the originals just started, so we expect things to ramp up in the next 51 days (I'm assuming it's over when Halloween is over).

Boo: Jack-o-Lantern Fun

An inside look at this year's creation

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

Through the years, we have carved our share of pumpkins in the Hunsperger household.  I'm usually the one who does the honors, but I am by no means an artist.  You'll see that in a moment with the pictures I've included.  But I do have a lot of fun doing it.  I do envy the people who are able to have very detailed designs on their jack-o-lanterns.  It truly is a work of art.  Here's a look at a few of the creations we've done around here.  The kids come up with the design, I just cut it out...

I usually do it without any problems.  However this year as I cut the mouth out of the jack-o'-lantern, I sliced into my thumb with the knife.  It luckily didn't cut deep into my thumb, but it grazed it enough to make it bleed, so I'm typing this with a bandaid on my digit.   Now on to the show...

Oscar the Grouch & friends (2012)

2009

Puking pumpkin (2010)

2004

Bunny ears (2005)

One of my first carvings (2000)

2004

Mr. Pumpkin Head & friends (2006)

Little pumpkin (2007)

Smiling (2011)

She painted, I carved (2013)

Boo: I Got a Rock

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Even at age 40, I still look forward to watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" every year on TV.   It's been a tradition in my family since I was a kid.  The Halloween special has aired each October since 1966, almost seven years before I was born (for the record).

I'm going to make the assumption that you've seen The Great Pumpkin at least once in your life, so I'm not going to go into the details of what happens in this 30 minute animated classic.  The takeaway has remained the same, if there's something you believe in, keep on believing, no matter how silly it seems to others.  At least, that's what I've always gathered from Linus and his desire to catch a glimpse of the mysterious and elusive Great Pumpkin.

I got a rock

While keeping the faith is one piece of this cartoon, it's filled with plenty of great laughs too.  I love the lovable loser, Charlie Brown in this special.  As he and the rest of the Peanuts gang prepare to go trick or treating, Charlie ends up with a sheet filled with holes.  Then while his buddies are getting popcorn balls, candy, and other sweet treats, Charlie Brown proclaims, "I got a rock."  House after house, that's all he ends up with, a collection of rocks.  

Girl vs. Dog

There's also the Halloween party where his head is used as a model for jack-o-lanterns and Lucy and Snoopy struggle over an apple during the bobbing contest.  Speaking of Snoopy, he gets into the spirit of Halloween by dressing as the World War I flying ace, the Red Baron.  It's a nice tribute to veterans.

Keeping the faith

All three story lines are woven together to make this a memorable part of my childhood and something I'm glad I've been able to share (and continue to share) with my kids.  Linus may never get to see that Great Pumpkin, but I love his optimism and spirit of the holiday.  I think the world needs more of that today.

Boo: No More Pumpkins

Halloween 2012: Our last pumpkin patch trip as a family?

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my12cents on Twitter

I knew this day would come.  After all, when I was in 7th, I made it my last year to go trick or treating until I was a senior and high school and it was somehow "cool" again.  But our two oldest kids, ages 13 and 12 have opted out of Halloween fun this year.  Kinda.

Our oldest (8th grade) will be marching with the junior high and high school marching band in our small town's Halloween parade.  Traditionally, students wear some kind of Halloween garb as they make their way down the street playing haunting tunes before the official start of trick or treating.  Our 12 year old, who is in 7th grade, didn't trick or treat last year, after we bought him a $50 costume because he made the basketball team and had a tournament that night.

Pumpkin Patch 2013

I can accept that our sons are too old to trick or treat.  But recently I announced that I'd be heading to the pumpkin patch with their little sister (age 8), and was told by the boys they had no interest in going. Going to the pumpkin patch has become one my favorite fall past times, and this was the first year that we didn't do it as a family.  My daughter and I made it a Daddy-Daughter Day and picked out a variety of gourds.  My hope is that when we start carving them up later this week, the boys will want to be in on the design work, but I'm not holding my breath.

Pumpkin Patch 2005

I think my daughter knew I was missing the boys being out there with us and when we got into the car and started driving home she said, "Don't worry Daddy, I'll always come to the pumpkin patch with you."  It melted my heart and made me feel about 10 feet tall, but in the back of my mind I knew instantly that her sentiments will eventually change too.  It's all a part of growing up I suppose.

I'm still a big kid at heart.  I love decorating the house for Halloween.  I love dressing up in a costume.  I love taking the kids trick or treating.

Pumpkin patch 2009

I'm the same about Christmas.  It killed me when the boys finally figured things out and stopped believing.  They've kept the legend of Santa alive for their sister, who I know is just a year or two away from figuring it out for herself too, but that's a blog for another day.

Long story short, I know we all get older.  Kids don't find the things cool they did when they were little now that they're teenagers.  Blah, blah, blah.  It's a part of life, but I don't have to like it.  I just hope their memories of the pumpkin patches, the jack-o-lanterns, and costumes stick with them like they've stuck with me.  Okay, pity party over, time for a candy apple.