Monday, October 27, 2008

Fun Monday - Halloween Memories

I wonder if I remember how to do this. I have not posted an entry since September 14, and I have not participated in Fun Monday since August 17. Although my last two entries were about our flood woes, we have not suffered dire consequences or ill effects because of the flood like some others in our county. However, I have been busy.

For this week's Fun Monday event, our friendly and not even frightful hostess, Sayre of Sayre Smiles, is requesting. "Tell us about your favorite Halloween as a kid (pictures, if you have them!), and show us your costume for this year. If you're not dressing up, show us a picture of a pumpkin carving that really tickled your fancy or how you decorated your house."



That is me middle in my nurse costume at a neighborhood Halloween Party.


I may not have a specific favorite Halloween memory, but I have many fond memories of this holiday. When I was a child, Halloween was a big event. Regardless of the Fun Monday icon borrowed (stolen) from our hostess Sayre, I did not and do not think of Halloween as a scary holiday. I remember Halloween as a community event mostly for children but also for kind and giving adults. In our city, trick-or-treating began the week before October 31st so we went door to door begging for candy not only the night of Halloween but a few days before the 31st as well.


The children portraying a scary ghost and a frightful bat.


When our children were young, trick or treating was restricted to a few hours on Halloween night. Most years, I would sew costumes for the boys. The very first costume that I created for our oldest son was a king costume. The crown was made of green poster board, and he had a black velvet cape made from his mom's torn velvet slacks. Both the cape and the crown were trimmed in gold. As our sons grew, they requested a variety of costumes including a rabbit, a bat, a ghost, and Batman's sidekick Robin. Since our sons grew up in the 70's and 80's, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader were natural choices for costumes. Although these costumes were make-shift, the boys seemed to be satisfied with these creations



Our son Luke is Darth Vader and his brother Matt chose to be Luke for this Halloween.



Daddy D , the science teacher, joining in on Halloween fun in his mad scientist costume and the appropriate libation.

To read about other Halloween memories and festivities, visit Sayre Smiles. Happy Halloween