Comments | theinferior4: For the Love of the Dark

lizhand in theinferior4

For the Love of the Dark

Oct 31, 2008 08:15

I actually forgot about this, till I saw that Brett Cox had linked to it on his blog - thanks, Brett! - a 2003 Halloween essay I wrote for the Washington Post OpEd Page. Maith Samhain, everyone!

For The Love Of the Dark

A few years ago, I was walking home to where I used to live on Capitol Hill. It was late ( Read more... )

Comments 5

bauhausfrau October 31 2008, 12:37:06 UTC

lizhand October 31 2008, 19:11:25 UTC

Thanks -- it's my faorite holiday too, with Christmas. And that's a great point you make, about it being empowering for kids. At least it was in the olden days, when I was a gypsy (I think that was the default costume for girls). Here, parents often drie their kids around fro0m house to house, which to me is defetaing the point: you're supposed to be out there alone with your friends, a little bit uneasy, but not beholden to adults (for once). I guess they get more candy this way, but to me candy always seemed somewhat behind the point, as long as I got my Clark Bars.

Off nowe to carve the last pumkin -- have a great time tonight!

sacredchao23 October 31 2008, 12:39:38 UTC

That is a really wonderful essay Liz. For me the penultimate statement about the way the season feels will always be the epigraph for Bradbury's October Country:

...that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.

By the way, I know I owe you an email, and I'll get to it this weekend hopefully. Have a great Hallows!

lizhand October 31 2008, 19:12:42 UTC

Love that piece from October Country - we're all autumn people on this bus ....

Yes, drop a line -- and hey, happy belated anniversary! You know, I STILL have your wedding present!

parttimedriver November 2 2008, 16:38:04 UTC

Belatedly (as usual), glad to have jogged your memory. It's a wonderful essay; you should repost it every Halloween. I was especially glad to revisit it this year, when, as I indicated at my own lj, things have been so busy, the Halloween prep was pretty last-minute. But we did get the jack-o'- lanterns out.