My Halloween(s)
I've never been a big fan of Halloween, and I know a good deal of that has to do with my childhood. My parents were one of those parents who didn't let us celebrate. Halloween celebrates witchcraft, the occult, the devil, etc., we were told, and you wouldn't find us doing that. So every year at school, we got to dress up as saints. I dressed up as a nun when I was in kindergarten, and I was too damn cute. So cute that my mom kept that picture of me in her daytimer. Maybe it was also a reminder to her that I used to be nice and cute and a good child. I don't remember if I dressed up every year in grade school, but I bet I didn't. In high school, only juniors and seniors dressed up, and I don't remember if I did or not. I'm inclined to say I did one year and not another, but I'm not sure.
I dread Halloween each year. Well, dread isn't the best word, but I don't look forward to it. Probably because I don't consider myself the creative type, and I have no desire to start being creative. It's also because I don't know what we're celebrating. Most other holidays are pretty straightforward about their celebration, but Halloween, not so much. If I'm invited to a Halloween party, I have to make a conscious decision to a) attend the party sans costume or b) pretend to be creative and find a costume or c) just don't go because it's too hard. I've definitely done all 3. In fact, last week I turned down a party invite I received that day because I didn't have a costume and I wasn't going to buy one. My favorite Halloween was quite a few years ago in Kent. I went out with Nikki, Dave, Kelly, PilotBoy, and some other people. Nikki, Kelly, and I dressed up as nurses, and Dave was the Operation guy. I don't remember anyone elses costumes. Halloween in Kent is second only to Ohio University. People come from all over Ohio to Kent or OU. There are people everywhere. Walking down the street, hanging out of windows and doorways, looking onto the street from a balcony. Crazy amount of people. It's probably the most number of drunks I've ever seen in one place. i'm not claustrophobic, but I'm also not crazy about being crammed into a street like sardines. It was fun, even though there was some drama. I was very glad I went. Who knows, maybe next year one of my creative friends will decide what I should be till Halloween. But don't be surprised if I show up to your party sans costume.
I dread Halloween each year. Well, dread isn't the best word, but I don't look forward to it. Probably because I don't consider myself the creative type, and I have no desire to start being creative. It's also because I don't know what we're celebrating. Most other holidays are pretty straightforward about their celebration, but Halloween, not so much. If I'm invited to a Halloween party, I have to make a conscious decision to a) attend the party sans costume or b) pretend to be creative and find a costume or c) just don't go because it's too hard. I've definitely done all 3. In fact, last week I turned down a party invite I received that day because I didn't have a costume and I wasn't going to buy one. My favorite Halloween was quite a few years ago in Kent. I went out with Nikki, Dave, Kelly, PilotBoy, and some other people. Nikki, Kelly, and I dressed up as nurses, and Dave was the Operation guy. I don't remember anyone elses costumes. Halloween in Kent is second only to Ohio University. People come from all over Ohio to Kent or OU. There are people everywhere. Walking down the street, hanging out of windows and doorways, looking onto the street from a balcony. Crazy amount of people. It's probably the most number of drunks I've ever seen in one place. i'm not claustrophobic, but I'm also not crazy about being crammed into a street like sardines. It was fun, even though there was some drama. I was very glad I went. Who knows, maybe next year one of my creative friends will decide what I should be till Halloween. But don't be surprised if I show up to your party sans costume.