Halloween needs a sense of community. Unfortunately, my fellow floor dwellers barely look at me as we wait for the elevator together. Add that downtown apartment living isn't usually synonymous with children. And, that history shows no one ever knocked at my door to trick or treat. Plus, I'm old(er) or whatever (wow... I guess I'm still getting over just having passed my scary-age birthday) and Halloween has lost its sense of excitement.
I mean, we all remember plotting out the best course to maximize candy acquisition. I vividly remember when the lightbulb finally went off and I was like, "pillowcase"! Why have I been wasting my time with this stupid plastic pumpkin!
It was all ghost and goblins and sugar highs!
And then it happened... The dreaded Hallow's Eve in high school sometime, when it all came crashing down. When we were looked up and down in our half-assed skier costume and told "aren't you too old for this?". You are never too old for Halloween!!! It just took a few twists of fate to remind me of that, and to make this year the big return of the Halloween celebration!
So, Halloween parties always fall the weekend before the big day. Fortuitously this year, the party of the year fell on my birthday. Perfect! I hate organizing my own birthday and so, it made for an easy and social plan with zero effort other than the costume. Right, the costume...
My creative costume muscle somewhat atrophied, I cruised the Halloween shops for ideas and options. I had no idea "sexy" costumes have been taken to a whole other level over the years! You used to have to go to the sex shop to get the slutty nurse or whatever. Now there are popup stores on every corner offering everything from slutty cupcake (cupcake!!! seriously!? How does something so innocent, so sweet, get so twisted into that. So sad.), to tinker bell, to superhero, to clown, to....you get the point. So, no. Not for me.
I finally landed on the idea of a gypsy... With my my crystal ball, at least I had a somewhat interactive prop.... "Boys, let me tell you your fortunes..." ;) All it took was some serious thrift shop commitment and out came the sexy, not slutty, costume of the year! Well, in my mind anyway....
Armed with costume, 7 bottles of wine between 5 of us and a rum birthday cake that can knock you on your behind of its own merit, we were ready to hit the party!
Fast forward October 31st....
Seven pm. Sitting on my couch, post day of office grind and too much sugar, my phone buzzes beside me. "Hey! So, you want to wander around and check out the houses with me?" Asks a guy I've been trying to meet for the first time. (FYI: if you were looking for it, there is your First ;) .... The Halloween revitalization meets the spontaneous first date meets the Baron...).
So, there I find myself, standing outside my apartment for the first time on a Halloween evening. And to my surprise and delight, my neighbourhood actually rocks it out on Halloween! I mean there were thousands of people! Kids shipped in from the burbs, adults in full regalia, drag queens, court kings and street jesters! Everywhere!
Stage, circus director, loud speaker and seriously scary witches ushering all passerbys towards the Vancouver King of of some Court as he sat on his thrown handing out treats and collecting donations for A Loving Spoonful; provided to the hungry living with AIDS/HIV.
A really cool way to make good in the neighbourhood and to bring it together. It was super cool:) I seriously underestimated my hood. My building, not so much. But who knows, maybe next year I will bring the is newly ignited spirit to my address and turn those grumps into ghouls! Maybe. I know we need to be the change we want to see and all, but some things are better left to the pros...
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