The Great Pumpkin Shortage.

I am worried about pumpkin supply.

Just a few short years ago, this wasn't something I lost sleep over.  After all, no one craves pumpkin in its raw form.  Difficult to cook and dangerous to carve, the pumpkin is best used for smashing.

But now, with the enormous selection of pumpkin sundries, I am convinced there will be a shortage before Halloween.

My concern took hold while perusing facebook the other night.  Half a dozen friends were swooning over pumpkin coffee, beer, bagels, muffins, and candles.  After a quick trip to the mall and a stop at Target, I knew the situation was dire.

In addition to the aforementioned pumpkin novelties, I saw pumpkin pretzels, pumpkin bars, pumpkin face cream, pumpkin tea, and pumpkin crunch.  When I spotted Pumpkin Poptarts I knew the Pumpkinication of America was complete.

With this proliferation of pumpkin, it's in the number one position on the endangered gourd list.

We have Starbucks to thank for the pumpkin-free state toward which we are headed.  With only steamed milk and spice they made women everywhere covet the previously innocuous vegetable.

Just a quick sidebar; what is it about pumpkin, anyway?  Do we think romance and babies come in the box of Pumpkin Poptarts or are mixed in our $4 latte? The pumpkin crave so primal, we must.

This Halloween, like, you, I will sip a pumpkin beer and burn a pumpkin candle but will sadly be in a pumpkin-free house.  Unless I count my brain.  That has turned to pumpkin and so, my dear, has yours.