Don't Forget to Have Fun

This space is often occupied with weighty matters of national or international import. I'm going to change gears today and report on one of Visalia's upcoming cultural events - the annual watermelon seed-spitting contest.

The contest will be held this Thursday at 6:30 P.M. at the Farmers Market site on Church Street off Main in downtown Visalia. Just to show that human beings are always looking to improve things, or maybe that no matter how simple something is we always find a way to complicate it, the organizers have made some changes this year.

First of all, Farmers Market manager Paige Williams says they are going to roll out butcher paper with distances on it to better adjudicate the results. Seems there was a lot of dispute last year and some difficulties finding black seeds on black asphalt.

Second, there will be more winners. Instead of the former two categories of under twelve and twelve and over, this year contestants will be entered in three groups: 6 and under, 7 to 14, and over 14. First, second and third place winners will be awarded in all three groups.

Fans will get to see big John Silva defend his title in the adult age group. He is quoted in the Visalia Times-Delta as saying, "Watermelons with seeds are kind of hard to find, but I found one and I've been practicing. I'm ready to defend my title."

We always have plenty of serious matters to occupy our attention and weigh down our countenances. They always threaten to dampen the spirit. That makes a little silliness all the more welcome in life and necessary to the human psyche. Hail to the competitive watermelon seed-spitters of the world. And don't forget to have a little harmless fun, whatever your own variety is.