I was trying to remember the last time I ever went "Trick-or-Treating." I think it was sometime around seventh or eighth grade. I can't recall what costume I wore for that last spin around the neighborhoods. It was probably something cheap, homemade, definitely not one of those glossy, plastic, store-bought costumes. I do remember that I didn't go as far into the neighborhoods as I had in my younger days. The whole idea of wandering in the sharp evening air left me with many doubts about the efficacy of "Trick-or-Treating" as a means of achieving a sick candy buzz.
I suspect I stopped dressing up for Halloween because I was tired of pretending. It all probably had a lot to do with going through puberty . . . I was in a hurry to be somebody, but I wasn't sure who that somebody was just yet.
Anyway, kids will be swarming the streets this Monday. We live in the suburbs, flanked by homes with children. Meredith's filling our candy cache. I did a little decorating around the house, stuffing a garbage bag witch with newspaper. The witch is a cheap 99 cent decoration, but she has her charms. There are also rubber bats, plastic spider webs, and jack-o-lanterns set here and there. Meredith has also bought me a costume. . . It's a felt Devil's mask. I suppose I'll carry my Halloween demons with me when I answer the door to the tune of sappy Halloween sounds (a disc Meredith also bought). Mere, of course, has a Frankenstein felt mask. The dog shall remain unmasked, though we do have a pink wig he likes to wear. He's pretty certain he's a dog. He likes being a dog.
6 comments:
ah...halloween in the suburbs. i tried a new twist this year. i sent little darth vader(ette) out with dad while i held back, handed out candy, and drank wine. it was much more fun for me that way.
the funny thing this year was how hyper protective the schools have become. our public school wouldn't let children participate in their (playground) parade with either a mask or a weapon. my daughter's outfit of darth vader, without a light saber or a darth vader mask, is essentially a turtleneck with a cape. so we pulled out last year's surgeon's outfit for school and let her run wildly endangered through the streets at night in her mask. there was no calamity.
My nephew also was Darth Vader and was de-masked and de-sabered by his school. In my neighborhood Halloween had a new flavor as most of us were without power, post-Wilma, and the streets were piled high with cut trees and debris, and so the kids were advised not to trick-or-treat at night. What happened instead was two full days (Sun and Mon) of costumed kids appearing at my door at random moments. Kinda strange, kinda fun.
Why is it "Meredith. of course, has a Frankenstein mask"? Why "of course"?
. . . (puts on his devil mask).
By the way, Mere, I thought the Frankenstein's mask was way cooler. Plus, you had the groovy plastic bolts for the neck. . . I'm so jealous.
Great blog...much enjoyed my walk through it.
Post a Comment