When Dr. Seuss was dreaming up the idea of green eggs and ham, he could not have envisioned the Big Green Egg of the 21st century. So one has to wonder just what Dr. Seuss would have said about the “world’s best smoker grill.”

The idea of the Big Green Egg is 3,000 years old and rebirth of the ancient oriental Kamado cooker is taking the country by storm.

And one very lucky “guest” at the Garden Party at Terra Cotta Saturday night, April 10, will take home a Big Green Egg and can begin planning garden parties of his or her own.

The Garden Party is a fundraiser sponsored by Terra Cotta and First United Methodist Church of Troy with all proceeds going to the 2010 Pike County Relay for Life campaign.

Nancy Harrell, publicity chair for the event, said the Big Green Egg smoker is just one of many prizes that will be awarded during the Garden Party.

“We’ll also have drawings for a landscape plan designed by Terra Cotta owner Bryant Smith, who has a degree in landscape architecture from Auburn University,” Harrell said. “Bryant will design a landscape that will show exactly how that particular lawn would look if the plan is followed. Such a plan would be about $500 if commissioned.”

Harrell said other prizes will include a fresh floral arrangement for a special occasion and a variety of indoor and outdoor plants.

Those who attend the Garden Party will have their names entered in the drawings for the prizes.

The Garden Party will be reminiscent of the days when life was enjoyed at a much slower pace and people had time to enjoy a warm early spring night in the midst of friends and neighbors.

Finger foods will be furnished by First United Methodist Church of Troy and the Bradley brothers will serenade the party goers with guitar selections and they are great guitar players,” Harrell said. “The Garden Party will be a wonderful, fun way to spend the early evening. We invite and encourage everyone to make plans to be here. Not only will it be fun, it will be a good way to support our Relay for Life campaign.”

Harrell said all of those at Terra Cotta and so many at First Methodist have been directly affected by cancer.

“This is an opportunity for us to reach out to others,” she said.

“I just don’t know of many people whose lives have not been touched by cancer. For me, it has been very personal.”

Harrell said last year, she sat down to make a list of family members who lost their lives to cancer or have battled the disease so she could purchase luminaries in their memory or honor.

“There were so many of them that I just had to get up and walk away,” she said. “It was frightening. Our family lost a precious little three-year-old girl, Hadley May, to cancer. Cancer knows no age. Hadley’s dad, Tony May, is now the youth pastor at First Methodist and every year First Methodist is one of the top fundraisers for Relay for Life. Many of their members have been affected directly or indirectly by cancer.

And, it’s that way for so many. That’s why, as a community, we should do all we can to help find cures for the different kinds of cancer and, hopefully, one day eradicate this terrible disease.”

Tickets for the Garden Party at Terra Cotta are $35 for individuals and $60 for couples. The party will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at Terra Cotta and First United Methodist Church of Troy.