Watermelon Day

So we wanted to have a reason to get all the kids and grandkids together one more time before school started. We found that August 3rd was open on the calendar and a quick check of Google told us it was National Watermelon Day. Never wanting to miss an opportunity to have a themed party, the planning began.

The day went great! People showed up dressed for the event-- Sara and Ramon dyed shirts for themselves and Mr Ben that looked like watermelon; Isabella wore a watermelon print shirt; and others wore pink and green. All had tons of fun coloring, blowing bubbles, spitting seeds in the contest, and rolling the watermelon through the obstacle course. And we even ate some watermelon! In fact, we were so busy having fun, I forgot to gather in the little ones and read my fairy tale to them. The plan was to read it to them the way The Night Before Christmas is traditionally read on Christmas Eve in our family. But I forgot and have been asked to post it, so here is the story of The Day of the Melon...

The Day of the Melon

'Twas the day of the melon and all through the town

No one was smiling, not even the clown

The fields were filled with a fruit so gigantic

That they only brought one on the big ship Titanic

Pink on the inside and green on the out

The sweetness was awesome without a doubt

But no one could get to these delicious fruits

The fields were all muddy and no one had boots

They tried to get out there with wagons and cars

But no one could get there, no one got far

The mayor said, "Simple, I'll drive out in my truck."

And it didn't take long for him to get stuck.

The fire chief sent for his men with a ladder

Five men, ten, then 15 did not matter

Their efforts heroic, valiant, and brave

But even these experts the fruit could not save

The weather was humid, sticky, and hot

The people were scared that the melons would rot

The summer, it seemed, would not end with a feast

Their harvest was lost, their good luck had ceased

"Hey, wait" yelled young Earl, the librarian's son

"Don't give up yet. This still can be done!"

He held up one finger and said, "I have a plan."

"I'll need the help of every woman, child and man."

"Yes!" yelled the mayor, "Use any resources,

Our police and fire, their cars, trucks, and horses!"

So young Earl spoke and the people they listened

They smiled at his plan and watched his eyes glisten

While he told them to go and be quick on their feet

To raid every shoe box for the packs marked Do Not Eat

Then bring them back here and we'll open them all

And from those we collect from your homes and the mall

We can spread on the fields to dry up the muck

And bring in the melons with hard work and some luck

So the packets were gathered by townsfolk so busy

And the fields were sprinkled then sounded all fizzy

By three in the PM it was clear Earl's plan

Was a rousing success and the harvest began

The fruit was brought in and the people felt blessed

They praised the young boy and proclaimed EarlFest

But this modest lad would not have it their way

So at his request it's called Watermelon Day