I love Boston.If I could transport the Rocky Mountains to Massachusetts, I would move there tomorrow. Well, except that I cannot spell M-A-S-S-A-C-H-U- S-E-T-T-S without the help of spell-check.
Jamie and I just returned from Boston and everything about the area resonated with me: the ocean, the rocky crags, the explosion of trees, the locals who can't say their Rs...all of it was so endearing and I wonder why it has taken me this long to visit.
My new obsession is vacationing on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket or Cape Code. If you have a vacation home on any of those islands, I will gladly take it off your hands for a week this summer.
Because I am generous like that.
For those just tuning in, I gave Jamie a trip to the Topsfield Fair for Father's Day. This community outside of Boston hosts the oldest agricultural fair in the country (190 years old) and if you need a description, just think the Super Bowl.
But with really big, orange balls.
I could make fun of them all but do you know what? I got a kick out of the whole event. These people have giant pumpkin growing down to a science and watching Jamie meet his Pumpkin Idols was akin to watching Hadley score her first goal in soccer.
Should it ever happen.
When we first walked into the arena, the weigh-off was already underway. Jamie has been in correspondence with many of the growers on Bigpumpkins.com, a forum where guys talk about [what else?] pumpkins and the women who love them. Or hate them. It depends on the day.
Jamie was looking for one man in particular and walked up to a group to seek him out. One guy turned around and recognition struck Jamie like a smashing pumpkin: it was his idol Joe Justras who holds the world record for his 1,689-pound pumpkin. Loving wife that I am, I insisted they pose for a picture together.
Though it saddens me this will probably replace the family portrait in our living room.
Jamie spent the rest of the morning watching the weigh-off and meeting various pumpkin growers. They come from all walks of life: farmers, dentists, manufacturing engineers, mortgage brokers, and even the Mafia. Yes, you heard correctly. One man who is allegedly "cut from the same cloth as the Sopranos" showed up with his pumpkin a half hour after the entry deadline.
Funny how they still let him compete.
I thought I had seen everything until I stumbled upon this couple:
They seemed legit but I have learned the biggest con artists are those you least expect. And finding scalpers at a giant pumpkin weigh-off is certainly not expected.
The world record will likely be bested next weekend by Steve Connolly, whom we met at Topsfield. Even though Jamie and I were casual observers, we were still deemed noteworthy and were interviewed for the local newspaper.
I expect The New York Times to contact us any day for the follow-up.
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Tune in next time as we journey to Salem, the land of the witches, and find out how we relived one of When Harry Met Sally's more memorable moments.
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21 Comments:
Wow- you are famous.
And such a good wife to embrace his hobby and go with him. Seriously- you're the best wife ever.
And I didn't realize money was the prize. Nice.
That was a hilarious interview!
I can't help you too much with getting a vacation home on Martha's Vineyard, but I do have a lot of dead ancestors buried there. Maybe one of them would let you crash on their grave.
I never realized how serious this pumpkin growing activity is. How nice of you to be so supportive and hang out with a bunch of big pumpkins.
I agree, Boston is awesome. But I don't know if I could ever call it home.
Wow. Just....wow. Those are some serious members of the squash family.
what a good wife you truly are. not only giving him the trip but going along =) going away to a beautiful spot, spending a weekend away from the kids, even sharing your husband with fellow growers and giant squash - what a sacrifice =
maybe it was a gift to you for putting up for months with the great pumpkin. glad you enjoyed it.
wow, you're such a wonderful wifey!! :)
May I have your autograph *now*, beFORE the New York Times makes you avoid the paparazzi?
Eager for the witch story. Great month for it!
I have friends with a house on Nantucket. They might get bent out of shape if I start offering it to people though...
I'm glad you had fun. The weather was pretty nice, wasn't it?
I absolutely love this subculture of people you and your husband have found. Do you suppose that each vegetable has its own equally passionate following? Giant tomatoes? Kohlrabi?
Wow! Those pumpkins are huge...what a fun hobby! I love how you can always find humor in things!
There are so many different pathways to fame...
I actually thought of you when that guy was on the today show- too funny!
That was awesome! I've been thinking about you guys every time I hear something on the news about giant pumpkins. Then I started thinking about growing some myself when I heard what the prize was. That's a nice chunk of money!
What a cool trip and I loved that interview!
Sounds like a really fun trip. Jamie has sure gotten a lot of miles out of his pumpkin lovin ways.
my goodness, I get a little behind and all of a sudden there is this whole pumpkin saga to catch up on! What an awesome hobby and how much fun for your family. It makes me want to grow a little patch of my own...only every year, due to the pesky command to plant a garden, we spend 100's of dollars only to harvest one pathetic zuch or a couple of tomaotes. I blame the tx soil.
Maybe it'll be better in Maryland next year.
Impressive. So many men have no appreciation for a good pumpkin...they're usually focused on the melons. :)
You keep getting famouser and famouser!
So, did Jamie take his pumpkin? Or not. I am wondering how you transport a huge gourd.
I used to read your blog a couple of years ago. (My former blog was mommy@home). Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I am back to the mommy blogging world and just love your blog.
I'm speechless at the sight of those pumpkins.
Seriously, what do I say?
Someday, Jamie will be one of those pumpkin guys and some young whipper-snapper will be wanting a picture with HIM. :)
You are such a good wife. You not only accept your husband's "peculiar" (but absolutely interesting) hobby, you do it with humor and grace. You deserve to get a Martha's Vineyard vacation out of this whole thing I say :-) I;ve never seen photos of Pumpkin superstars so thank you! :-)
I am very much looking forward to your Harry Meets Sally post.
That is one place I'd really like to visit. And I think that is so fun that you took him there to meet his idols!
I am totally digging all this pumpkin stuff, it's so interesting!
And I think I said it before, but I had no idea there was even a 'thing' for it all!
I'm sorry that the pumpkin is on it's last leg, hopefully it'll hold on for as long as possible!
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