Although I am behind on updating the blog from the Family Reunion/Mom’s 90th Celebration at the Salishan Resort on Gleneden Beach, OR, I felt compelled to tell the story of Baby Lakota Schenk as this is essentially a story within the story. I felt that this should be told aside from the rest so that the ugly, tragic details do not get buried somewhere. Let there be Justice for Baby Lakota!

Joel found some very unique squash seeds this spring – the package talks about the Native American Lakota Squash being relatively hard to find until recently. It also mentioned that each plant will have vines 10′ – 20′ long, so Joel decided on only two plants this year.

The plant took off and with lots of tender, loving care there were soon many of the beautiful, unique squashes on the vine.

It soon dawned on me that the squash would be ready to harvest at the same time that we would be packing for the family reunion. I had several family activities planned and, with a couple of recipes I had found, thought that one of the prizes for the family art contest could be a squash!

As you can see, Joel worked diligently in hopes of winning Baby Lakota Schenk back himself, as he knew the value and opportunity for delicious fall soups.

As fate would have it (or as Mom would judge the art contest) Natalie and Tony became the proud owners of Baby Lakota Schenk with their second place finish.

However, soon after this photo was taken, Baby Lakota’s fate took a turn for the worse. Larina snatched him out of Tony’s hand and a dangerous game of “Toss the Squash” erupted. As she was flinging Baby Lakota across the couch, his delicate stem popped out of his body. We watched in horror as the efforts to squish the stem back in place turned futile; a clear liquid started oozing out of his body – squash “tears” were soon dripping and sticking to everything and Baby Lakota was unceremoniously put back into his cardboard transport box.

In another unfortunate turn of events, some time during the evening, Natalie and Tony decided to abandon Baby Lakota. Instead of pursing a proper adoption to someone that would care for and cook him properly, the two perpetrators decided to “hide” Baby Lakota in with the collection of “show pony” squash that were haphazardly “arranged” as decorations at the entrance to the Salishan Lodge.

I suspected all along that Baby Lakota Schenk would not go home to Boston with Natalie and Tony, but what an evil thing to leave him amongst alien beings!

We gathered him up as we left and promptly made soup with him when we got home.

THE END