Halloween is that one time of year that dressing up as someone that you clearly are not is not only ok, but encouraged. I like that. I like finding costumes that are fun, “me” and don’t have to be explained too much. The trouble is that so many of the cool icons that warrant imitation have not been around in a long time. Nobody knows who I’m talking about when I ask for a Carmen Miranda costume.
Such is the scourge of getting older, I suppose.
Giving out candy is still on the to do list. My husband and I take turns each year handing out little treats to the groups of kids looking to make a haul. The years my hubby handles the chore seem to be mild and dry. My turn is usually composed of freezing temps and driving rain. But we get the job done.
Fewer kids than what “used to be”come calling anymore. My candy bill is down to one bag. When I look up the street, I see large patches of darkened houses. There are only four houses lit around me. I remember when the expanses were illuminated with decorations and scary music. Almost everyone handed out candy, and neighbors chatted in between groups of trick or treaters. Streets were full of kids yelling with excitement through plastic masks and under bed sheets. But it has gotten quieter in the face of allergies and situations that have become all to common in the latest generation. Not everyone can meet the needs, so they just don’t participate. Or they are just too busy working odd hours and coming home beat.
One of the coolest things I saw this year was a stretch golf cart. It had purple, green and orange twinkle lights edging it and played the theme from “Ghost Busters”. It shuttled a bunch of costumed kids from one group of lighted houses to the other. How awesome was that?!? It really made me laugh at the ingenuity and effort that someone put forth to shrink the long dark patches in the neighborhoods. The group was safely in the cart so there was no darting into the street, crankiness over walking long barren patches in the dark, or lagging little ones. Clever…good work.
But I guess the darkened homes will increase as time goes by and fewer children will be able to Trick or Treat. More parties are being given to accommodate the growing needs of younger population.
Going to only people’s homes that you or your folks know isn’t a possibility anymore because no one knows their neighbors anymore. Even in our small town, even the kids don’t go out side anymore. It’s a shame that traditions are losing ground quickly.
As for me… I proudly went to a Halloween party dressed as a mug of beer. My hubby was a beer bottle. It was fun. And at my age, dressing as a cold mug of brew is the only to turn a guys head.
Trick or treat!