Hello all. Since it's almost Halloween, I am going through my pictures one more time. Even though the witch looks pretty scary, the sentiment is sweet. "May the spell of the Hallowe'en witches bring you good luck and also riches." That seems harmless. Many people have different outlooks of this holiday. Some people take it very seriously, some have fun with it, and others refuse to acknowledge it at all. I work with a woman who cannot stand to hear any mention of the holiday at all because it's of the devil. She knows it is one of my favorites now, so we agree to disagree. Even someone buying jewelry for a gypsy Halloween costume upset her. We are all entitled to our opinions, but I did feel that I needed to say that I didn't feel the same way. After all, gypsy fortune teller is my favorite costume.
This photo is a few years (!!!) ago, but it was when my friend and I told fortunes with dominoes at our history museum's annual Trick or Treat event. We had such fun! I also like to collect and read Tarot cards.
Our parochial grade school, All Saints, used to organize one of the best Halloween Haunted Houses in the city. For several years, it was one of the school's biggest fund raisers, and lots of people got involved. John's wife and her sister were the major organizers of the event and had the most clever ideas. Even our priest got into costume. Eventually we got a new priest, and he didn't like it all. He even cancelled the students' parade around the neighborhood in their Halloween costumes and their party.
As for costumes, I was almost always a gypsy, even when I was very young. I wasn't the best at coming up with detailed costume ideas. It seems like my children were either ghost brides, gypsies, vampires, or bums. As bums, they got coffee ground beards. The vampires had lots of food coloring blood. And the ghost bride wore a costume made from old curtains, and flour on her face for that pale, wan ghostly look.
Our friends had the best Halloween parties. The same sisters that orchestrated the Haunted Houses were also the hosts at many parties. The couples costumes they came up with were truly amazing. One year it was Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat. Another year they were Oompa Loompas. John and his Candy were Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy one year. She was known for being able to come up with just about any costume that someone wanted. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned the entire attic filled with vintage clothes at our old house. That was her doing. She found a formal dress for me the year that my daughter and I went to the party as Prom Queens. She was the Present and I was the Old and Faded Past. It was fun. Other years I was of course, a gypsy. Jim and I didn't usually do couples costumes. One year I was a hippie and he was a construction worker. That was back when they used to yell at each other. It seemed kind of controversial at the time. Another year, he was a famous prize fighter. I was, of course, a gypsy.
Well, this little trip down Memory Lane has made me remember the caramel apples, popcorn balls, and full size candy bars we used to get in our pillowcase trick or treat bags when I was a kid. Times have certainly changed over the years.
