55:365

Right now, I'm watching through my window as the sun slowly sets, and says 'goodnight' to this stunning fall day, filled with beauty, warmth, and laughter.  It begins to hide behind the tree line as it's reflection in the lake below are a dead giveaway.  I love fall.  I think all people do.  The energy electrifying the air are only evidence of this, though one cannot root back to its source.

Today, for the first time since I've lived in my apartment, finally went downstairs to see the Pumpkin Regatta on the lake.  It has always woken me up in years past and this year I wasn't going to miss it. Partially do to me being reminded via a marching band blasting their tune at six in the morning to promote for a local television.  The city had forgotten that this was also a residency...Apparently I wasn't the only was who was a little alarmed, as I had a well-thought-out apology note taped to my front door.  All that to say, I'm secretly glad I woke up to the band playing the other morning or I would have completely forgotten about it.

Walking around, I saw painted faces, people hitting fake, floating golf balls into the lake - aiming for a plastic pumpkin, painted faces, carefully carved pumpkins, and pumpkins that weighed as much as my car floating in the water next to the foot bridge.  The pumpkin owners were diligently digging out the insides preparing for an aerodynamic race.

As the paddlers were edging the start line, the crowd was cued to count down, "5...4...3...2...1!"  The paddlers exploded off of the start line making the rounds as fast as giant pumpkins could float.  Some paddlers had a hard time even reaching the water with their paddles and made turtle speed through the turns.  With a previous year's winner in the lead, a duck pumpkin with it's ducklings trailing in a close second and the city's mayor fighting for 3rd place, the city experienced a fall tradition that won't be going anywhere any time soon.  And hopefully next year, I won't need the band to wake me up at 6:00 a.m. to remind me of the festivities coming up.

Jennica