From Where I Sit

By Pat Spilseth, Columnist

It’s time to start thinking of Halloween and the treats I’ll serve this 31st to the witches, ghosts and goblins on Halloween. I love to see the little kids come to my door with their pillow cases filled with candy. Dads usually hide behind the garage waiting anxiously hoping their little kid is safe and not too scared.  

My sister Barb has loved Halloween forever. No one gets into Halloween costumes and treats and decoration like Barb! This past week she flew from New York out to visit us in Minnesota and brought treats for the grandchildren. What a hit she made with the kids as they discovered waxed big red lips and fangs. The kids were thrilled looking and laughing at themselves in the mirror as they donned the waxed lips and fangs.

Remember those fun wax disguises we wore as kids back in the fifties and sixties? The black mustaches weren’t available this year when she asked for them. Only problem was the 2, 4 and 5 year olds bit and started chewing the wax so they no longer stayed in their mouths.

One memorable Halloween years ago, a very tall ghoul in black arrived at my door, looming tall and silent, a grimace on his blackened face. He might have been one of my students as I was still teaching at that time, but I couldn’t be sure. He didn’t move, said nothing. It was a threatening sight…I’m not sure if the ghoul was male or female or what age the silent one could be. I was more than a bit frightened.  

Back then my husband was flying airplanes out of town on Halloween. He flew a 757, not a broomstick. My kids were in the neighborhood trick and treating by themselves, too big for Mom to tag along. Andy was probably smashing a few pumpkins with his buddies; Kate was hefting an over-stuffed pillow case filled with chocolate treats.  

Each Halloween my sister Barb, who lives in upstate New York, wears her red corduroy cape like Little Red Riding Hood. She dons a purple Viking hat with chunky blonde braids and greets kids coming to her door. Her Boston Terrier Bruno will be dressed appropriately with fangs bared to frighten any little goblins in her neighborhood. Her area has a host of dogs including the neighbor’s Rotweiller named Bear, Bruno’s buddy. In Schenectady, where Barb’s family lives, the kids get out of school early on Halloween so they can trick or treat while it’s still light outdoors.  

Back when I was in school, I remember that I didn’t want to give up the costume and treats when I was only 12 or 15. However, my last Halloween happiness was when I was a junior in high school. I had been so happy in my very own original creation, a tombstone costume. Though I was too big to fit into those store-bought costumes, I could still be a terrific ghost in mom’s sheets. But I was tired of the ghost and witch attire I’d had for so many years. This year I was a giant tombstone, made out of a refrigerator box from the hardware store. I carefully lettered my death date in Roman numeral letters along with a “Rest in Peace” blessing scripted at the bottom. 

I’d been busy collecting my stash of chocolate and nutty candy bars, when I rang the doorbell of our local sourpuss postman’s house. He appeared at the door. When he saw me, he barked, “You’re too big! Go home! Halloween is for little kids!” 

What a blow! I was chagrined, devastated, embarrassed. Too big? I had been having so much fun running door to door carrying my pumpkin full of candy, spooking myself and my pals with haunting goblin shrieks. Whispering, whining tree branches scared us, which kids love, but I always got a little nervous when I approached the house where kids had to put our hands on eyeballs, which were really only peeled grapes. But when I put my fingers into the cauldron steaming with eyeballs on dry ice, I always screamed…with scared delight.  

I knew I was a tall, older kid, but I didn’t feel I was too old or too big to be still trick or treating on Halloween. What kid doesn’t love feeling scared on Halloween? That’s part of Halloween’s magic!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

To contact Pat, email: pat.spilseth@gmail.com.