Orange You Glad?
Remember the knock-knock joke about the banana that does not stop knocking until it turns into an orange? Orange is a vibrant, autumn hue, along with red, yellow, and brown. It is an energetic, playful color that inspires warmth and optimism, which is why the previous October photo blasts a display of orange pumpkins I discovered on a church lawn.
In sports, orange symbolizes strength and endurance. In the classic board game Monopoly, the color set players land on most frequently is the orange trio because of their proximity to JAIL, making St. James Place, New York Avenue, and Tennessee Avenue the three most lucrative purchases. Though orange is not a preferred color I like to wear, it got me thinking…
Orange you glad that pumpkins are not pastel pink, gruesome gray, or blubbery blue? That roasted pumpkin seeds make a healthy, delicious snack, and that the flesh of pumpkins can be used in desserts, meals, and even lattes? That jack-o’- lanterns look scary but are not terrifying at all?
Orange you glad that God chose orange to paint the opening and closing of each day? That sunflowers and chrysanthemums celebrate the fall season in our fields and our gardens? That we can spice up a menu with turmeric and habanero and sweeten it with papaya and persimmon?
Orange you glad that the animal kingdom includes an abundance of creatures tinted orange? That the garibaldi fish, also known as the Catalina goldfish, brightens Eastern Pacific subtropical waters and that male Baltimore orioles whistle the coming of spring throughout the Midwestern and Eastern US? That while we’d rather not come face-to-face with a Bengal tiger or a strawberry poison dart frog, we can appreciate their orange brilliance in a zoo?
Orange you glad that you can quench your thirst with vitamin C-packed orange juice, Tropical Mango Gatorade, and a tequila sunrise cocktail? That Starbursts, Gummy Bears, and Skittles each offer an orange-flavored morsel? That even though Cheetos and Doritos don’t taste like citrus, they keep you licking your fingers until all the orange is gone?
Orange you glad that the broadcasting and publishing media have developed characters with orange attributes? That Zoe, Sesame Street’s lover of dance, Chuckie, the worry-wort from Rugrats, and Pixar’s Nemo make youngsters smile? That A.A. Milne’s Tigger, Jim Davis’ Garfield, and Bill Watterson’s Hobbes keep adults smiling?
Orange you glad that there are purposeful, protective items like safety cones, life jackets, and construction signs to keep us out of harm’s way? That there are basketballs to dribble and shoot and basketball games to cheer and play? That big-eyed troll dolls with furry, up-combed orange hair still roam toy stores and collectible venues?
Orange you glad that orange is the color on the spectrum that Vincent Van Gogh used most often in his paintings, mixing different combinations of yellow and red to create new shades? That terracotta earthenware has roots in our soil and that salmon can be found in our country’s lakes and rivers? That home improvement retailers sell a myriad of orange paints such as orange zest and orange poppy for people looking to add a cozy vibe to their rooms?
All colors considered, despite having no orange in my wardrobe, I am particularly glad for sweet potato fries and mimosas, monarch butterflies and tabby kittens, and tiger lilies and birds of paradise. In honor of October’s orange, I’ve added two experiences to my bucket list: a visit to Arches National Park in Utah, full of precarious-looking rock arches the shade of autumn pumpkins, and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, apparently painted “international orange” because it complements the natural surroundings and enhances the bridge’s visibility in fog. But before I leaf, I’ll need to pick up some pumpkin spice motor oil for my autumn-mobile.
🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊
Knock, knock. (Who’s there?)
Banana. (Banana who?)
Knock, knock. (Who’s there?)
Banana. (Banana who?)
Knock, knock. (Who’s there?)
Orange. (Orange who?)
ORANGE YOU GLAD I DIDN’T SAY BANANA!
🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊🍌🍊