Are you ready to be spooked again? Halloween is right around the corner. With it hopefully comes a few good chills and giggles, and none of the frights. The world is scary enough as it is.
When we were young, Halloween Trick or Treating lasted for hours. Mom gave us large paper bags with handles, or sometimes pillow cases, and we often returned to go out with a second bag.
Mom made our costumes every year, too. The all-time favorite amongst us siblings was a witch’s hat big enough for a child to walk around inside. It was so cool to be able to float down the sidewalk spooking the other kids. We all took turns as we grew big enough to fit just right inside. Mom made for me a Raggedy Andy costume one year. I was definitely a Tomboy and had no intention of being Raggedy Ann, but being Andy was pretty cool. That was my favorite costume of my childhood. My least favorite was the year I insisted on a Pebbles Flintstone costume from the discount department store. I wanted to look colorful and cute like all the other kids in the neighborhood. Mom suggested that wasn’t a good idea, she thought she should sew me something special instead, but I was adamant. I wanted to be Pebbles. Halloween came, and I put my polyester costume on. It was cold and icky. The mask was tight, hot, and scratchy by my eyes. I was miserable. That did it for me. No more masks and no more store-bought costumes!
Thankfully Mom could sew, and she was creative. But I think she knew we had both learned our lesson. Soon afterwards, she started teaching me to sew, and then sent me to sewing classes. I ended up making my own costumes from then on, and those of my sisters too. Whenever anyone needed a dirndl skirt, or a Hawaiian shirt, or even a prom dress alteration, it fell onto my lap, and I always got it done.
Back to Trick or Treat. I remember, we were able to go out after dark, and we weren’t afraid. We came home with full-sized chocolate bars and sometimes cans of soda pop too! I remember taffy apples, and homemade caramels, cookies, and popcorn balls. We sure had a great childhood Halloween experience, so different from what children today can expect.
My worst Halloween experience was inviting a friend to sleep overnight. We stayed awake way too long and sneaked out the candy to eat through the night. We were both sick and done with our loot by morning’s light.
These are the memories of a typical suburban American child. I never saw a corn maze until I became an adult. It took moving to the country to discover the joys of hay-rack rides and corn mazes, and real pumpkin patches. But we did have fun. It was just in the way we knew how to do it. Thankfully, we never participated in Tee Peeing or egging someone’s property. That was absolutely unthinkable. I am glad of that, and all my parents taught me about respect for others.
But carving jack-o-lanterns was the very best of all. I remember how well Dad could do it! His strong hands could manage the big knife, and he taught us how to empty that pumpkin so that it was clean. Mom roasted pumpkin seeds too! Yum!
It wouldn’t be long until we would see pie pumpkins arrive at the kitchen table, and soon afterwards pumpkin pie. Those were the very best times of the Fall.
I can still see and smell it all. I can feel the wet pumpkin in my hands and remember the cold, chilly nights. When I look ahead and hope I can see my grandkids in their costumes, or open the door to little ones, I am glad for childhood, for customs and traditions, and for the memories.
I hope you find a fun way to celebrate the Fall season, whether with grandkids, neighbors, or at senior programs at your senior center, or library. The way to stay young is to stay young at heart!
Happy Halloween!
Barb Nadeau is the Mobility & Community Relations manager for Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois, representing five counties. She is a freelance writer and an elected alderman in the City government of Plano. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.