(He's the weak link in my chain, and you'll have to permit a few other liberties here and there...)

I can get to PUMPKIN, and then turn it another color. In fact, I can go from there to ANYWHERE ! (But I'm not sure I can go anywhere after that)


I
AI
AIM
MAGI
GAMIN
ENIGMA
AMPING
IMPUGN
DUMPING
BUMPING
BUMPKIN
PUMPKIN
PUMPING
UMPING
MUTING
MATING
MAGNET
MAGENTA
MANAGER
MANGER
MARTEN
MATTER
HATTER
THEATER
HEARTEN
THREATEN
NEWHEART
ANYWHERE



...and I don't think I would start from PICK-ME-UP. Maybe one or two words earlier.