It is easy to wax nostalgic this time of year. I walk through the Halloween aisles in stores, amazed by how intricate some of the costumes are. They are so realistic, I can hear my inner child screaming with envy, especially if I am looking at a princess costume. Back in 1974, all I wanted to do was put on a long, silky gown and tiara and go door to door howling “trick or treat.” Of course, back then I had to settle for a polyester jumper with a gown painted on it and a plastic mask with a built-in tiara.
Halloween costumes have come a long way, but are they really better? I eventually outgrew my princess phase and wanted to be ugly and frightening. However, I couldn’t bear the thought of wearing one of those suffocating plastic monster facemasks with needle-sized breathing holes. I got creative and made my own mask out of a paste I threw together with flour, water, and green food coloring. Come to think of it, the whole thing was a miserable flop, but it was fun trying.
At the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon, kids these days just don’t know what they are missing. Halloween costumes are too easy and far too realistic. There is no need to use your imagination because all the hard work is done for you.
There are entire stores devoted to Halloween costumes. Adults do not have to use much brain power anymore either. Want to be a sexy nurse, or sexy police officer, or sexy maid —you are covered. I am over that phase at this point and have reverted to ugly and frightening. The kids don’t need to know it’s just me in a witch hat without makeup.
Of course, there are some things that haven’t changed much since my days on the mean streets of trick-or-treat. Parents still sort through that big bag of candy at the end of the night, making sure all of the goodies are safe. My father used to keep all the Almond Joy and Mounds bars we brought home. I guess those must have looked suspicious.
The treats were better back in the day, however. Times were different and, at least for the first years of my trick-or-treating career, people handed out candied apples and popcorn balls. There were those not so nice neighbors who threw in dark chocolate, just to torture us unsuspecting ghosts and goblins.
At the end of the night, my mother always rewarded us with the best treat of all — a pot of warm cider and homemade cookies. She wanted to hear all about our adventures, while dad surveyed and stole our treats.
Thank goodness, the best parts of Halloween are timeless, regardless of how realistic the costumes are or how tasty the treats. It all boils down to what brings out the kid in us all — the thrill of being a pirate, a monster, a police officer, or a princess if only just for one night.
