As we sit here tonight on Halloween waiting for kids to show up in costume, knowing it will never happen, the night brings back memories of great past Halloweens. We have never lived in a place where kids show up in droves. We always have a big bowl of candy and if one is daring enough to brave the long, foggy, dark driveway they are rewarded with enough candy that they could actually end their quest right here. But, that never happens.
My kids never had Halloween when we lived in Eastern Washington. Talk about never being able to go trick or treating. So, when we moved to Gig Harbor and they were old enough, we started one of the most special traditions of Halloween.
First, a good two weeks before the big night, the pumkin carving had to take place. We would lay out the newspaper, dig out the biggest bowl we could find for the guts then go to work. Dad would always direct, Mom would always warn about the knife and being careful and the kids would just get slimy up to the elbows. It wasn't so much about how they turned out, just that we did it as a family and there were roasted pumpkin seeds at the end and Jack - O - Lanterns on the porch.
Then, after putting it off until the weekend before Halloween, we would shop the thrift stores to find just the right stuff for just the right costumes. We would start with either no idea or some idea that changed mid stream and leave the thrift stores with the best costume stuff ever, every year. Amazing how that happens. There were lots to choose from but I think the most memorable are noteworthy of mentioning here.
The very first official costumes were Batman and Robin. The boys were too young to realize the embarassment involved in wearing underwear dyed to match the costume on the outside of sweat pants.
I think everyone who saw him will never forget the sweet angel Statue of Liberty. I am fairly certain I will catch a lot of grief for publishing this photo but isn't he cute!
Not to be outdone, my favorite one for his brother was the Indian costume. His dad spent a long time making him a real bow and arrow. We found real fur armbands at the thrift store and while my sewing abilities were (and still are) limited, I was able to put together a tunic that was perfect. Of course,
the brother had to be the Cowboy. Strange, the cowboy had the beard and the Indian didn't! Oh, how things change.On Halloween night it always got dark early. We refused to be among the throng of parents who loaded up their vans with kids and found the most densely populated communities with the most money, drove there and unloaded the kids to scurry from house to house. Instead, we prepared the costumes, make up and all, at home. It was always cold so Dad and I would have to fix some sort of hot toddy in a Cougar mug and we would head out with Murphy, our dog, on a leash and this family would walk and walk and walk to any neighborhood around. I remember this like it was yesterday and it was so much fun.
Finally, after a couple of neighborhoods, everyone was tired, including the dog. We would finally make the decision that enough was enough and head on back. And, although they were tired, we had to check the candy to make sure it was void of danger and then the kids would go through and start their trading. One like chocolate better than the fruity candy and vice versa so alot of trading went on.
Those days are gone. Now, my oldest son is being the adult in a community of kids, bringing joy to them. My youngest is dressing up at college as who knows what and doing who knows what. What I do know is that any joy they derive from Halloween got its start at home, with us, and with the concerted effort we made to make sure these would be memories they would have forever. In return, I am certain they will create and maintain traditions of their own when they have families. I am just as certain that we will once again be able to experience these joys with them and with our grandchildren. No pressure there, right?
Happy Halloween to all!
