Please don't ask about my costume.

[saffronhare]

I really loathe Halloween. Sure, I enjoy putting a few things up around the house. In the last decade or so, the spiritual observance of Samhain has been a buffer of sorts against the secular celebrations of the season.

But make no mistake -- I hate Halloween. Bah, humbug.


I guess it's the costuming that makes me all cranky. Either I lack the imagination to figure out really good costumes for myself, or I give in to somebody else's idea about how I should dress -- no matter what, I always feel stupid and ugly. It's been this way as far back as I can remember. In recent years, the costumes for which I have earned any acclaim are the overweight pirate (with a beard and everything) and the nun who totally miscaluclated the impact of her look. Add the shame of discovering that I'm more vain than I thought, and you've got a very unhappy bunny.

Now, I've got kids who have all sorts of ideas about what they want to be, who change their minds faster than I can keep up with, and who have nearly impossible demands for my time and budget.

Please understand: I affirm and promote everyone's right to have parties and dress up in different costumes for all the different events that happen around this time of year. Heck, I even make some of those costumes. I sat at the breakfast table with a needle and thread this morning, reinforcing a strap on Princess Boredom's dress. I really do want everyone to have a great time.

In order to relieve some of this internal conflict, I want to give up on the idea of wearing any sort of costume right now. When I show up at your party (this year or some future year), please just let me be there as myself, for you.

Comments

Spurious logic, perhaps

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

Well, since Samhain is a fine Pagan religious holiday, and David and I are Kira's godparents, how about putting us in charge of her Halloween costume from now on? One less thing for you to hassle with, and it gives us some way to contribute to her Childhood Memories of Good Fun™. :D

Love you, even when you're cranky. ;)

Possibly less spurious logic

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

You are a sovereign being, and can hate Halloween if you so choose.

Also, I don't believe any of the sort of parties you'd LIKE to attend, are the sort where they kick you out for not being in a costume. I'm just sayin'.

Re: Possibly less spurious logic

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

You both make excellent points.

Sure, take over Kira's costuming if you like. I can't figure out if she's a fairy or a dragon or a princess. Or maybe it's a dragon with a crown and wings. Or something.

And you're exactly right about the sort of parties I like to attend -- which is why I'll haul myself to your place this evening and even behave decently.

mwah. XO

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

When people ask what costume I'm wearing for Halloween my usual response is, "I'm going as the Mom." I'm doing well to get the kids costumed (or not, for the elder one, but that's a different post) most years.
But in the spirit of the festivities, I have on my huge orange sweatshirt with the kitty-cat from the Looney Toons that says, "Got Candy?" That's my way of playing along while not having to come up with any kind of costume. It works for me; YMMV.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

nodeal57 has an orange t-shirt that says "This is my costume."

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

So is there a target time for joint trick-or-treating tonight? We are also on the docket for a belated birthday dinner out, but we should be there between 7-7:30 or so-ish.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

That timing sounds about right. It's more of an open house than a timed party. You stopped by last year, right? Same thing. I bet Princess B will want to go trick-or-treating with La Greca.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just figured we might want to time T&T for them a bit.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

The most precisest I can get is that we're planning to leave the house for the Grandparent Parade as soon as I get home (which should be by 5:30 p.m.). That'll put us at EHQ by about 7:30 p.m., if not a bit earlier, but who knows for certain. We'll head for home at about 9 p.m., perhaps.

I would very much like to drink tonight.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

I could bring the Napoleon brandy to slosh into tea, if you like.

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Trick-or-treating usually occurs whenever there's a critical mass of children, AND adults willing to take them...sometimes there's more than one round of it, depending on costume changes/energy levels. It's a pretty good neighborhood for that sort of thing.

7-7:30 or even a bit later should be fine.

[kcwitch.livejournal.com]

personally i think it's a choice. either you dress up or you don't. i've done both. i've actually dressed up all weekend and today i am just in a t-shirt and jeans and damn happy about it.