Go Ahead, Say It Out Loud

Since mid-October, when driving south on US 27, just before entering the next town south of where I live, I have seen an unusual sign posted at the end of a residential driveway. It is clearly observable en passant that the people who live there have an abundant quantity of a popular seasonal gourd and they are desirous of selling them to anyone who may drive by.

You know the one I mean...it is Halloweeny and it makes a really good pie. I like pie.

But I digress.

This is what the sign says:

PUNPKIN

Now, this is not just about an unfortunate mispelling. This sign has been up for weeks! And here's the odd thing...okay, one of the odd things. The "N" was obviously added to this sign as a corrective afterthought, for it is a different color marks-a-lot than the other letters and it has been shoehorned akwardly in between the "U" and the second "P". I really want to know if the sign-making part-time produce marketers don't know, or if they don't care?

Go ahead, try to say it. If you are not from Estonia, or one of Tolkien's Elven folk, then you cannot readily pronouce this word. Just one letter of the alpahabet off and phzzzzzt! This word is no longer in English. But it is funny...no, really, it is. I promise.

Your assignment is to work this word into casual conversations for the next week. You people with children, get your tykes to say this word. That should be good for lots of laughs.



Listening: "Flow My Tears" by John Dowland (b. 1563-d.1626) I'm really into English Renaissance music at the moment. More on that later.