I've never kept it a secret that Halloween was my least favorite holiday of the year. I think it began when I was just a little girl. I didn't like to draw attention to myself, and I felt that happened when I put on a costume.
My mother, though, loved Halloween, and spent a lot of time making costumes for all of us. My sisters were lots older than I was, so we're talking adult costumes, too, even when I was little. I remember the year my mom was Mae West. She even had a very realistic mask, and the rest of the outfit made it totally authentic. Not surprisingly, she and my sisters always won prizes for the best costumes.
Our congregation used to have a yearly Halloween party, and I can remember how my mother and sisters and one brother-in-law would talk about the fun they had at those parties--and then all of them going Trick or Treating afterward, sneaking down alleys and through backyards. (Not sure if my mom did that part, though.) Frankly, I was shocked to hear of these activities! I always thought it sounded like it would be fun, but in reality, it wasn't for me.
About the time I started school, the stores sold primitive-looking costumes made out of a cheesecloth type of material. Very sleazy looking, and easy to rip because they weren't sewn very well. I really wanted one of those costumes, but my mother already had plans for a great costume for me as "The Little Match Girl" straight out of one of the fairy tales. As I look back on the event, that costume was totally superb to what the other kids had from the store, but I was a stupid five-year old. Couldn't convince me...
My sister Lois and her husband Dale always made a fuss over me like I was their kid, as they didn't have any kids of their own at the time. They came to our school for the kindergarten party with their new movie camera to take pictures of my class's Halloween parade. Imagine their surprise when I sallied by the camera without anything left of my costume but the skirt!
I got flak for years from the whole family for that incident. No one EVER forgot!
Halloween comes when it is knocking on November's door. ALWAYS plenty cold by then in Wyoming. And for many years, it had already snowed by October 31st. That meant I had to wear snow boots and a heavy coat over my costume. Uncomfortable. Plus, I was wimpy and didn't like to go out Trick or Treating in the cold anyway. I just wanted to stay home in the warm house.
Every mother made her specialty for the treat to give out. My mother's was popcorn balls. They were hard to chew because my mom's recipe was for the syrup to get to a hard ball stage before it was poured over the popcorn. Lacerated my teeny mouth. Not fun from that angle either. Discomfort all around...
Halloween candy at that time was what they called Penny Candy. Nothing good like Snickers or Milky Ways. Those were full-sized bars, and only one house in the neighborhood gave those out as they cost ten cents apiece.
Since I wasn't really keen on candy anyway, I never got around to eating the stuff after I DID go Trick or Treating. But heaven forbid that I should share it with the family either. So, it just sat around and got old. I usually threw it out just before Christmas. When more yukky candy showed up in my Christmas stocking.
Then I got older.
Some Halloweens at college were really great! I had a lot of fun at those parties and get-togethers.
Then I had kids...and my opinion didn't change much about not being keen on the holiday itself. But I did make sure Halloween was fun for them, sewing great costumes and making sure we had good treats to hand out, as well as having the best part of the holiday--a Spook Dinner. Now that was a riot!
When I flew for United Airlines, that was one holiday I didn't mind when I had to work. That's when Louis began to answer the door on Halloween. He's really into passing out the candy, and has a good time talking to the kids about their costumes, etc. The only bad thing is that every year fewer and fewer kids come around the neighborhood. Safety, I guess. That's why the school and the church all have Trunk or Treat--to make sure everyone has a good time and is safe. But Louis has already purchased his full-sized bars for this Halloween. No yukky candy at this house!
All told, it's a great night for me to be upstairs all by myself reading a good book. Currently, THAT is my idea of a Halloween celebration! Oh, with a yummy donut and a cup of hot chocolate in hand. I'm really easy to please....
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
