Halloween Progression

Stage I

CANDY! CANDY! CANDY! As a kid I was consumed with thoughts of all the candy I would be getting Halloween night.  Usually mom and I would adventure to Rose’s and she would let me choose some horrific and cheap costume, usually some character popular that year.  I now see some of these costumes being sold as “vintage”, so I guess I’m vintage now too.  On Halloween night, we would follow the exact same itinerary every year.  Eat, get dressed in my all vinyl and plastic costume, and hit the road.  We would visit Maw Maw Ann’s house first.  There it was kisses, pictures, and CANDY.  Then we were off to Maw Maw Edna.  Edna did Halloween in true fashion with a huge weenie roast.  This to me was better than Christmas.  It really was like a family and friends reunion.  As the years have gone by I long for that weenie roast.  In my memories, this is top shelf.  In reality, how perfect were these weenie roasts?  Well that I don’t care about.  All I know is that I appreciate the memories of them more and more as time passes.  After getting my fill of hotdogs, mom would then take me trick or treating in our neighborhood.  Most years mom drove me around.  I pretty sure I heard, “Don’t slam that door” a hundred times.  Door to door my McDonalds bucket would fill to the top.  As the bucket filled so did my heart.  I heart candy.

Stage II of Halloween:

I’m too old to trick or treat, and I’m too young to realize how fun Halloween can be.

Stage III

Halloween as a young adult was tremendous fun, with a touch of over indulgence.  With great friend and great times, Halloween became absolutely my favorite holiday.  Halloween wasn’t about candy anymore.  It was the exact same bars, parties, and friends but some how it was different with a little face paint.  It gave us all the reason in the world to drink a little more and laugh a little louder.  Hiding behind a mask never felt so great.

Stage IV

These days I will still exclaim that Halloween is still my favorite holiday.  The joy that Ella and Raleigh give me takes me to new highs.  My Halloween spirit soars when I witness their excitement and anticipation just the same as me 25 years ago.  For days now both the girls have asked over and over if Halloween was here.  I hear them talking about candy together.  They are proud to tell people about their costumes.  As the girls were running from house to house last night, smiling, holding friends hands, comparing candy, it reinforced my love of Halloween.  At the first house we visited Ella ran to me and screamed “Daddy, Candy Corn”!  (In my head.. No baby.  Snickers, go for the Snickers) The longer we walked I thought the novelty of trick or treating would wear off, and I’m fairly happy that it didn’t.  The girls could have run through the neighborhood all night.  So I would like to say thank you for everyone who made the girls have a great night.  So for now I’m going to celebrate the candy with the girls, and I will quietly celebrate when Halloween isn’t cool anymore, I will celebrate and pretend that I don’t know what is happening at the college Halloween party, and hopefully I will be there when it all finally makes sense. 

So is Halloween still my favorite holiday.  You bet!  Last night I walked around with a Tiger Fairy, a butterfly, and my wife.  I’m pretty sure she went as “smoking hot”.