Halloween
I appreciate that my children are generally pretty pragmatic and utilitarian about their costume choices. Skipper, for example, chose a costume that uses the same black pants and black sweatshirt as last year's costume, plus a new felt mask (handmade by Cook). Duchess is wearing the same piratical shirt she has worn for many dress-up events* in the past, and a belt (and lunar theme) from three Halloweens ago.
This year we went to the home of our friends who live in a wealthy neighborhood that turns out to attract an enormous number of trick-or-treaters. It was pouring rain, so the hordes of kids were all carrying umbrellas, and between maneuvering the giant moon on her back and continually being poked with umbrellas, Duchess felt it was all too hard, gave up after a block and returned to our friends' house to give out candy to the continual stream of soggy kids. Skipper made it a little further, but in the end they both much more enjoyed the giving of candy than the procuring of candy. And the modest pile of loot was the perfect size for enjoying in a moderate orgy divided between the night of and the morning after. (I think a heap of candy for breakfast is pretty great, personally.) No leftovers!
I most enjoyed the 45 minutes before we left, when Skipper was wearing her mask** and fully inhabiting her character, prowling and growling and pouncing around the house. This is a kid for whom the magic of masks is particularly potent, allowing her to leave behind all the hesitations and worries of her ordinary self and just be somebody else. Which is one of the great things about Halloween, too.
*Photographed episodes include last Halloween, the Halloween before that, and Pirate weekend at Catalina.
** Technical problems with the bridge of the nose compromised what was otherwise a pretty fabulous creation.
This year we went to the home of our friends who live in a wealthy neighborhood that turns out to attract an enormous number of trick-or-treaters. It was pouring rain, so the hordes of kids were all carrying umbrellas, and between maneuvering the giant moon on her back and continually being poked with umbrellas, Duchess felt it was all too hard, gave up after a block and returned to our friends' house to give out candy to the continual stream of soggy kids. Skipper made it a little further, but in the end they both much more enjoyed the giving of candy than the procuring of candy. And the modest pile of loot was the perfect size for enjoying in a moderate orgy divided between the night of and the morning after. (I think a heap of candy for breakfast is pretty great, personally.) No leftovers!
I most enjoyed the 45 minutes before we left, when Skipper was wearing her mask** and fully inhabiting her character, prowling and growling and pouncing around the house. This is a kid for whom the magic of masks is particularly potent, allowing her to leave behind all the hesitations and worries of her ordinary self and just be somebody else. Which is one of the great things about Halloween, too.
*Photographed episodes include last Halloween, the Halloween before that, and Pirate weekend at Catalina.
** Technical problems with the bridge of the nose compromised what was otherwise a pretty fabulous creation.
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