Halloween Reflections

We never dressed up for Halloween when we were kids. Mom and Dad never made a big deal about our not “celebrating” Halloween. We just didn’t. Instead, we sat in the living room with a big vat of candy and tracts and vied to answer the door when the doorbell rang. One piece of candy for the trick-or-treaters, one piece of candy for us. I never felt deprived.

Fast forward to the last couple of years, when I’ve discovered how much I enjoy putting on new identities. It started for a youth group “Sponsor Seek”, in which sponsor’s disguised themselves and attempted to evade the youth while walking around a shopping mall. I painted my face a chalky white, wore my friend’s best approximation of dreds, and stepped heavy in big pants and a jersey. Then came work spirit days, where I dressed as a nerd, a superhero, a football player (a wifebeater and sweatpants positioned strategically below my buttocks, revealing my red athletic shorts beneath.)

So when a costume contest was announced for Halloween–I dressed up.

I won first place (Thank you very much!), probably due to a last minute thought to bring along some photos I had lying around.

After making the long trek indoors–around the building and through all sorts of doors to get to the elevator–I asked Fatima and Marilyn if they might have seen my grandson (producing a picture of my brother Daniel). It took them a few seconds to realize that it was me–then they just laughed and laughed–while I continued with my story of trying to surprise my grandson, who was a student here.

The story was so successful, I couldn’t help but continue it. I stayed in character all day, discussing my pillies and my grandson. “This is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln? My grandson’s a student there.”

The older ladies in the kitchen–the morning cooks–enjoyed the costume most. Carolyn proclaimed me her grandmother and was quite anxious about me. “Are you sure you don’t need to have a seat, Grandma?”

Anyway, that was my Halloween costume.

Check out more, mostly children’s, costumes at Becky’s Costume Parade.