A pumpkin patch is an unusual sight in Las Vegas, but there it was, the entrance in front of the leasing office lined with pumpkins intentionally scattered so residents could walk around the patch and pick a favorite.
The pumpkin patch wasn’t just spread out to help it feel like a real pumpkin patch, it had other intentions: promote lingering, encourage conversation, lay the groundwork for getting to know neighbors.
After residents chose a pumpkin, they would go inside the leasing office, grab lunch, and decorate their pumpkin.
Curious families started to arrive early, and one young girl raced from pumpkin to pumpkin shouting.
What about this one?
Oh, this little guy is cute!
This pumpkin is heavvvvvvvvvy!
Can I keep my pumpkin in my room?
Do people eat pumpkins?
Then the little girl stopped running and faced me.
“Today is my birthday!” she announced and then smiled a smile that revealed a missing front tooth. She clasped her hands and swayed side to side.
“Well, happy birthday! I’m glad you’re here. What else do you have planned for your big day?” I asked.
“This is it! We get to come to this pumpkin patch!” she sang over her shoulder and continued to wander around the pumpkins.
Surely, the pumpkin patch was only part of her birthday celebration. You know how kids are, she probably didn’t know about additional festivities.
My eyes followed the girl as she proceeded to tell anyone who made eye contact with her about her birthday and about celebrating her birthday at a pumpkin patch. I wondered if this really could be the only celebration the girl was having, and later, while inside, I overheard her mother confirm this. No party, no cake, just a low-key birthday.
Initially, I thought I should run out and grab some cupcakes or maybe balloons, a small toy, a birthday crown, I don’t know, something, but as I watched the girl laugh and paint pumpkins with other kids from the community, I noticed something, she wasn’t missing anything.
In fact, the girl wandered over to a platter of cookies and invited everyone to take as many cookies as they wanted, and then I watched as she shared cookies and laughter like party favors.
The kids and families from the apartment community, the painting, the food, these were all things a birthday party would have, what we thought was just an event to build community God used to make one little girl feel seen.
