Halloween

I used to really not like Halloween. And this was when I was very young. I was scared, and I had some bad Halloween experiences as a kid. I don't hold these memories myself, but I've been told the story, and there are home videos of the before and after. I must've been 4 or 5 years old, and I was dressed as a bumblebee and so excited to go trick or treating around the neighborhood. As legend goes, my sister, my mom and I rang the doorbell of this one particular house. On opening the door, a very large dog came bounding out. I was a very scared little girl and I began to run. Everyone knows that a dog will chase a running person. From then on, I was not only scared of dogs, but of Halloween. Thank goodness we got our own dog when I was in 4th grade and now I love all dogs! But until then, everytime we rang a doorbell and I heard a bark, I would run back to the curb to my mom, and my sister would have to request candy for me. I don't know why I was always so scared of everything - I wouldn't even go to the houses whose decorations I thought were too spooky. I wonder if there was something else that happened in my youth that I am blocking out, but I don't think so. Katie was the fearless, talkative one, and I was the opposite.

Then in 3rd grade we must have learned about the reasons behind Halloween and its origin. This I remember from my own memory. I became convinced that it was sacreligious to go trick or treating, as the day was meant to honor the dead (at the time I did not know of anyone who had died). I vowed to not go out on the day with my sister and friends, and refused to get a costume. But as the day grew closer, I started to feel left out and realized a very important fact - I'm in 3rd grade. So I started scrambling for a costume. I remember being mad at my parents for not helping me more. I ended up taking an oversized shirt, and making it into a smock by splattering paint on it. I got a palette and a beret and was a painter. Needless to say, I had to explain my costume to several people at the doors of their homes while I waited for my candy.

But now I love Halloween. I love the weather, that is perhaps the greatest reason that I love the holiday. And I love seeing the costumes of little kids, it's always so adorable no matter what they are wearing. I know a lot of college kids dress up in slutty or funny ways and go to parties, but I don't. I'm too old for dressing up. It's especially ridiculous when I see people's pictures on facebook and realize that we have the costume they are wearing, except my little sister wore it several years ago. And it seems to be the same size.

We only got two groups of trick or treaters yesterday though. It's like kids don't go anymore. It was very odd. I was looking forward to giving out candy to little cuties, but only did so once! Is the obesity epidemic stopping parents from letting their kids eat Halloween candy? Maybe, but there's probably some other explanation.

Here's Emma as a bunny, so cute.

It's November now, which I could not be more happy about. Closer to Thanksgiving, closer to Christmas, closer to holiday break! Plus I'm going to Niagara Falls the 12th with friends, and I could not be more excited for that! Time to act like a 20 year old for once (though I may be acting a bit like a 21year old that weekend - even though it's Canada so I can act like a 18/19 year old).