HALLOWEEN MEMORIES
Over the years, I have become disenchanted with
Halloween. That is probably because my childhood memories are that of dressing
up as a pleasant personality—one that
made you smile rather than wince. This may have been a storybook princess, a
cartoon character or perhaps a cute animal. My early and midlife adult memories
are also of a more calming approach to Halloween. Then more frightful figures were
introduced and became quite popular. Each year, the costumes, masks and makeup are
more gory, which adds to my discomfort at Halloween.
Some vacation spots have annual shows with a Halloween
theme. Knott’s Berry Farm has “Knott’s Scary Farm,” Universal Studios has
“Horror Nights,” and the Queen Mary has “Dark Harbor.” The ghouls and goblins
are lurking here and there and jump out at their “prey” unexpectedly and are often
disfigured, dripping with blood and missing various body parts. It amazes me
that people actually pay to be subjected to such fright. This also entails
enduring heavy traffic around and long lines within these locales.
Thankfully, my parents took an everlasting
photograph of me in my favorite Halloween costume. I was Little Bo Peep, and Mom
fashioned my frilly dress from some
kitchen curtains that she had replaced. Dad skillfully handcrafted the
shepherd's crook.
Another fond
childhood memory is how much my brother Jim and I enjoyed trick-or-treating at
Mr. and Mrs. Woodmansee’s house on our block. This was because they always passed
out the bigger-and-better nickel candy bars instead of the usual penny candies.
One would never
know that Halloween is not my favorite holiday by what I do each year. I
assemble well over 100 candy packages for the door-to-door visitors, family
members and friends. Before Halloween, I personally deliver some of the treats
to favorite children in my neighborhood. Have you ever heard of home delivery
to the trick-or-treaters? It is also tradition for me to take these treats to my
friend Steve's home some distance away because he has many more
trick-or-treaters from his neighborhood and church than I do.
In my senior
years, the Halloween season seems to be too long and way too commercial. For my
preservation, I always avoid the store aisles with the gruesome masks and various
body parts. I think I’ll stick to my more calming homemade treats and cheery "Casper
the Friendly Ghost" for my Halloween entertainment.
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