A Midlife Look at Halloween. Terrifying or no?
Looking at Stasha’s prompt for this Monday’s Listicle: 10 Things Halloween —
I wondered if I’ve reached a tipping point in my Halloween years as an adult.
So here goes:
A Mom looks at Halloween 5-0.
10. The children are older. No need to follow along after them and wait at the curb. They are bounding around the hood by themselves. And having a great time.
9. Halloween comes without carving a pumpkin.
Year after year we all carved jack-o-lanterns and held a contest. This year because of our cramped living quarters — I didn’t buy five pumpkins. I bought one and didn’t carve it.
And all was fine.
8. Halloween comes without fancy costumes.
My son has always wanted a blood and guts dress up. This year I gave him an old shirt, let his sister make him up and he was happier than he’d ever been.
7. Halloween comes without lots of trick-or-treaters.
We made a fire and sat out back with a sign directing the fearless to brave the dark and head our way. I gave out a third of the candy I usually give.
And it was the perfect night to sit out by the fire and listen to the screams and leaves as they crunched underfoot of the children walking by on the street.
6. I can dress up as much or as little as I want. And have fun.
My costume. That I wore all day long.
5. Nothing makes me happier than a cup of pumpkin spice coffee in a Halloween mug.
4. I still have a weakness for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, closely followed by Butterfingers.
But for some reason, I don’t feel the need to inhale half a bag. Three and I’m done.
3. Each year, one of the day’s pleasures is calling a lifelong friend on her birthday.
This year was her 50th year too. Nothing like laughing and bemoaning the joys of turning half a century with a bestie on October 31.
2. Fixing what I wanted to eat, because I knew everyone else would be stuffed on candy.
1. Knowing that time has passed and being okay with it.
From one who used to spend a week making homemade costumes and trimming the house with lights and dripping with jack-o-lanterns, quiet is also good. Especially if surrounded by good conversation, libation and at least three Butterfingers.
Are you still running after your children in costumes?
