From

Location

Message

Date Posted

No Place Special

As many of you know, I lost my 1125 lb pumpkin this week to a mouse hole in the bottom. It would have had a very decent chance of weighing more than 1200 lbs October 2nd at the Anamosa Iowa weighoff, and it may have been a new state record (current is 1056) and may have won 1st place. With all the time, energy and money I put into this sport this year, many growers on BP.com and people in my personal life have commented on how well I am taking my loss. I must admit that I am also surprised at how well I am dealing with it. How do I do it or what is holding me together you might ask? Well, the chance that I got to try. Every time I start to feel upset or start to consider throwing in the towel, I think of this…

9/19/2004 3:27:12 PM

No Place Special

This winter my mother in law Judy (Eldridge Pumpkin on BP.com) put together a local pumpkin-growing contest. People came from miles around to get seeds from Judy and to enter the contest for this year. Some guy’s form the local army base also stopped in to see Judy and showed interest in growing giant pumpkins. There was one young man in particular who was super excited about trying out our hobby of growing giant pumpkins. He thought these giants were so awesome and he could hardly wait for spring so he could put his seeds in the ground. I believe this young man may have been in the reserves and he was called up for duty before spring arrived. He was disappointed that he wouldn’t have the chance to grow giant pumpkins this year but was willing to wait another year so that he could serve his country. This young man will NEVER get to try; he did not make it back from Iraq alive.

9/19/2004 3:27:30 PM

No Place Special

I am more sad and upset thinking about this young man and typing this than I will ever be about any pumpkin ever. He and other Americans have given their lives for us so that we can live in a country that is free. Many citizens of many other countries don’t have the privilege of enjoying the life styles that we have the same life style that this young man died defending. How could I be upset about a pumpkin when there are millions of people who spend their entire lives just trying to find something to eat?

So if you encounter a sad moment in giant pumpkin growing, please remember that at least you got to try. My 1125 went down to a mouse and it is very upsetting but at least I got to try.

Mike Frantz

9/19/2004 3:27:44 PM

Sparta, NC

Well said Mike. Life is precious. Live every day as if it were your last and don't give up don't ever give up.

9/19/2004 3:33:11 PM

Sask, Canada

Mike:

Yes very well written, Totally puts the brakes on the negative thoughts about growing and things that could have been different this year.

Sorry but it brought a big lump into my throat reading this post.

For once this year I am going to go out to my empty patch look at my giants sitting beside there waiting to go to the weigh-offs and reflect on this special sport and think of all the good things that happened and while I do that I'll have this young man in the back of my mind....

Sorry I'm choked up with your post, I'll end here

TTYL
Ernie

9/19/2004 4:19:24 PM

New Hampshire

Thanks Mike for that thought. It reminds me of Joe Torre's words after 9-11 and before the World Series, "It's only a game".

9/19/2004 4:33:44 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

Mike i know the feeling..

9/19/2004 4:40:08 PM

Saegertown Pa.

well said Mike

9/19/2004 7:15:08 PM

Western Pa.

Mike,

Very touching story. I guess we all have a little extra to be thankful for come November.

9/19/2004 7:32:04 PM

Indiana

U da man Mike....I try to pattern my philosophies like that

Tom

9/19/2004 7:33:48 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

mike its the simple things in life that we all take for granted the nicest thing about our sport is that we can put aside are punkin woes and realize just how lucky we are to be in this great country were so many give there lives so we can enjoy are sport so lets all remember are fallen heroes and may god bless us and allways remember life is short so lets do all we can to improve are sport and help anyone that we possibly can mike thank you for this post and god bless ya burrhead

9/19/2004 10:23:20 PM

Saugerties N. Y.

I never meet or talked to Mike Frantz but not only is he a good pumpkin grower, It sounds like he is a really good guy. Please at least once a day even if your not for all the fighting in the east pray for those soldiers to come home safeley.

9/19/2004 10:28:23 PM

Taber, Alberta

Kinda puts everything into perspective.
Alan

9/19/2004 11:56:54 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Well said Mike.

Count your blessings.

9/20/2004 12:36:07 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Mike,
My hat is off to you buddy.
Very well said and God bless.
Tom

9/20/2004 6:44:32 AM

Central Connecticut

Thanks for sharing that story Mike. I know there are alot of those stories out there, but I think we need to be reminded once in a while about how good we really have it to put thing into perspective and to remember the HUGE sacrifice some people have made for our freedom...Chris

9/20/2004 8:07:20 AM

ENGLAND

Mike
Very well put when putting your loss of a potential State record and the loss of the Guy you talked so compationatly about. I think about the many British Soldiers that had their lives put on the Line,and many lives taken, in Iraq when things get bad.

9/20/2004 8:15:23 AM

[email protected]

Very well said. Thank you for sharing this.

My family spent the weekend with our Scout pack aboard the USS Salem in Boston Harbor, Quincy, Mass. Hosting us were every manner of Veteran from a Navy Seal to a couple Marines, several Reservists, some young Sea Cadets & even two of the Salem's original sailors who have helped preserve her.

Coming home from that and reading this puts our hobby/sport in a very different perspective indeed.

Mike reminds us eloquently just how important our nation's Veterans are to the freedoms we often take for granted. We are again reminded to live a life worthy of their sacrifice.

Much in life is "only a game". But it is a game that the best element of society is willing to die for. God Bless the best.

9/20/2004 8:44:42 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Thanks for the reminder Mike.

9/20/2004 9:54:13 AM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Thanks Mike.

9/20/2004 10:03:10 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Thanks Mike. It's great to have things put into perspective every once in a while.

9/20/2004 10:11:05 AM

No Place Special

Thanks everyone. Glad I could help remind us what is really important. Everyone go home tonight and give your loved ones a kiss, hug and tell them how much you love them. A few weeks ago I put to sleep my dog of 15 years and burried my 57 yr old uncle. My dog Corkey I had since I was in Jr high school. This has been a tough summer but it reminds me that you must live every day and remember what is important. You never know what tomorrow will bring. God bless everyone here and good luck at your weighoff. Mike Frantz

9/20/2004 3:05:21 PM

South Dakota

Mike,
I lost one to mice this year also(not as big as yours) and I was pretty bummed. Almost ready to give up. Your post made me see things differently. Thank you! I had fun trying and I will have fun again next year while many will not.Kevin from S.D.

9/20/2004 8:44:49 PM

Puyallup, WA

Mike...Thank you for sharing that terrific story! You've got your head "screwed on right"! I hope we all can keep our sport in perspective.

9/21/2004 1:19:42 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Well said Mike!
Sorry for your loss and I can empathize easily since my year was much worse than yours at any rate...

Pumpkins are an important hobby for many people but the lives of Americans or any others are much more important.

I hope our president will get the Americans out of Iraq completely and that other world leaders will do the same.

Let them kill themselves if they want but war was obviously not the solution and lets just hope our own people will be safe.

I mean no disregard for any religion but any "religious" beliefs that condone and approve beheadings is no real religion at all. If that's how religions truly are then I would also condone beheadings and maybe even a few nukes.
It's a serious mess that our world leaders need to fix pronto!
Michel

9/21/2004 4:25:34 AM

Rhode Island

MIKE
SAD STORY BUT OH SO TRUE
I ALWAYS SAID " WE ARE NOT CURING CANCER, WE JUST WANT TO GROW A BIG PUMPKIN "
STEVE DALETAS SAID IT BEST IN AN Q AND A WE DID FOR THE NEPGA
HE SAID " ITS FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT COUNT THE MOST, THE PUMPKIN ONLY ENDS UP IN THE COMPOST HEAP "
DICK

9/21/2004 5:29:38 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Mike;
Good post... I think everyone takes for granted life itself, sometimes forgetting that we are mortal and only on this earth for a short time. Enjoy the "here and now" and all the little things we sometimes overlook. Time has a way of racing past you before you realize you lived more days than you have left, and you forgot to stop and smell a lot of roses! It seems like it was only a couple of years ago when I started growing. Sad truth is that was 1990, and my two children have grown up, and many years have past by without me really understanding how quick life goes by. Family and friends are much more important than growing pumpkins, and if I could, I'd have spent less time in the patch over those years. Don't get me wrong now, that does not mean I wouldn't have grown them, just that I'd use that time a little more wisely than before...
It sure is odd what happens to your thoughts as you grow older... I think I'm starting to sound like my parents more and more as time goes by.... what a scary thought....

9/21/2004 1:52:59 PM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

OK, now on the lighter side of things...

An American can go anywhere in our country for a week with just the cloths on their back, and the only concern would be keeping stains or dirt away from their cloths. In Iraq, An Iraqi's concern would be keeping the bullets away from their cloths...

When going out in public in our country, letting your wife or girlfriend dress, look, or say anything she feels like usually gets you in {good} trouble, and both of you in bed. In Iraq, letting her dress, look, or say anything she feels like usually gets you in {bad} trouble, and both of you in jail...

In America, even in the worst weather towns and cities {like Colorado Springs} allow a person to grow pumpkins. In Iraq, the only thing they can grow, or are growing, is sand dunes and enemies...

9/21/2004 2:12:22 PM

Joliet, IL

well put mike, extremely well put.

9/21/2004 3:56:16 PM