Smashing Pumpkins

Walking in Mount Pleasant recently, I noticed a few jack–o'–lanterns still out in front of some homes. By now, of course, some look like they've started to decay.

What a great idea, I thought. Think about it: With Halloween's preoccupation with skeletons, ghosts, tombstones, and so on, what good does a bright, shiny, healthy-looking orange pumpkin do? For my money, a scary face staring out at you from a pumpkin that looks gangrenous cuts a lot closer to the spirit of the holiday.

So if you carve pumpkins for Halloween next year, be proactive. Do it a few weeks earlier. Let 'em rot for the trick-or-treaters.