There has been much discussion in the Greer household as of late, concerning Lach’s Halloween phobias. It really has had me thinking what exactly about Halloween has always been so damn fun to me…other than the running amuck and reaping havoc upon the neighborhood, of course. I’ve had opposite experiences than Lach, in that for me it was a time when I could bring out parts of myself that were hidden the rest of the year, without facing ridicule. Perhaps it helped that I always went trick or treating with my brother and my cousin, so no one ever questioned my tomboyish attire with those two hellions. They were usually more concerned with putting candy in our little hyperactive paws and getting us off their doorstep. We always made our own costumes because the funds just weren’t available to buy any. Most of the time this meant simply being creative with whatever was in your closet. So, my Halloweens in the past have brought out the cowboy in me, as well as Army private in full fatigues (more than once), a hippy (also more than once), and two years ago I was a mechanic. The last mentioned was probably the most hilarious. I wore a greasy wife beater, pulled my hair up in a greased-up hat and painted a goatee and mustache on with some really dark paint. The highlight of the night being a carload of sorority girls whistling at me because they thought I was a guy.

I admit my younger years weren’t as boyish as when I was old enough to decide my own costumes. One of my first Halloweens I was Princess Leia and my brother was Yoda. Then there was a year that I have always given my mom shit about dressing me up as a paper bag. I don’t know what I was supposed to be, but I was too young at the time to know it wasn’t a spooky costume. Anyways, I’m not really sure where I’m going with this hella-Hallo-ramble but mostly I wanted to say that I am quite glad to know that after all of our loving bickering, next year is possibly open for Halloween activities. Let the planning begin!! Just kidding, baby, I’ll at least wait til June or so.

4 Comments »

June, eh? At least I have at least 7mo before the pleading begins in earnest.

Comment by Lachlan — 11/1/2004 @ 5:16 pm

Paper bag? By chance, Ms. Bayou, did you also have a crown? If so, your mother apparently is also a fan of “The Paper Bag Princess”.

Comment by The Writer — 11/1/2004 @ 6:20 pm

Hmm…I don’t think there was a crown involved, I’ll have to inquire about further details.

Comment by Bayou — 11/1/2004 @ 6:28 pm

Whistling sorority girls? If that doesn’t convince your lover girl that Halloween is a good thing then I’m not holding out any hope for you.

A paper bag. That is truly sublime. Damn, I wish I had thought of that. How old were you? 3? 4? 5? When my son was 2 I made a Samauri costume, at 3 he was Michelangelo (the turtle not the artist), at 4 I made him a crash test dummy costume…if only I had thought of the paper bag! Jesus tap dancing Christ! That is pure genius. Curses! Hours of costume preparation reduced to minutes! Your mother is my hero.

She should have told you that you were the ‘Unknown Comic’ who became known.

If you don’t know who the Unknown Comic was…then…I suppose I need Calgon to take me away…

Comment by Elizabeth — 11/1/2004 @ 8:35 pm