What's a Cushaw?

I'm retired now and use my time to write and otherwise meander through life, occupying my time in a variety of pursuits that let me read, ponder and marvel about our world. Seems I'm learning more in retirement than when I was actually on a mission to pursue some modicum of knowledge. This morning I yet made another startling discovery. I found the topic of the cushaw has not been written about on Associated Content.

Tens of thousands of folks who are searching Google for information will find that I am the AC point of contact on the subject of the cushaw. Perhaps some fleeting fame like that of "Joe the plumber" will be conferred upon me. Obscurity will be displaced by instant recognition ( I better start shaving more regularly). Satellite trucks, along with a bevy of reporters from around the world will be gathered on the street awaiting my comments on the subject of the cushaw effect. The revelation of the cushaw once again demonstrated to me that there is much to be learned. I'm reminded of an oft quoted phrase, "the more you know, the more you know you don't know".

I ran across the cushaw while perusing the newspaper this morning where a somewhat insipid announcement proclaimed availability. Obviously, that piqued my curiosity as I pondered the word. Could it be a new toy to take the place of the a slinky or the ever popular Frisbee? Is it edible? My wife suggested it might be an old fashioned pin cushion. In a glue and staple world, do they still use those things? Perhaps it was a some sort of modern high tech device that might end up on the shelf in my study along with the other "pet rock" like devices that consist of circuit boards and strange looking plugs that never seem able to mate up with any other device that I currently own. Lord knows, I already possess all manner of high tech objects that have become obsolete in a manner of months. I don't want to add any cushaw!

A cushaw? That demands a Google investigation. I typed in cushaw.com and was immediately rewarded. I knew it - a software company. I clicked on the links to determine exactly what the cushaw was and to my dismay nothing worked. Oh well, another search. Ah ha! There it is. I'll be darned. I've marveled at these creations every fall and apparently never knew the proper name. Whoa, there are lots of articles about the cushaw. Wonder why it escaped notice by AC writers that cover every aspect of human existence? So, the cushaw is a form of squash. They certainly are colorful and better yet edible! Here are some pictures and even a recipe for cushaw custard pie.

Now that's the cushaw effect! Pie. My meanderings have taken me down yet another path on the road not taken. I'm making cushaw custard pie for Thanksgiving! I can see the pie sitting there now as our family participates in our annual feast. I can relate the history of the cushaw which apparently has been out there for over a thousand years, yet I just discovered it. Will my high tech children be impressed or bored with my cushaw discovery? I'll know while we eat the pie.

As an aside, if you too just discovered the cushaw, you might be interested in the Ubuntu.