:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/E5QWNLYX7KVVGT4OIL73UO6PDU.jpg)
Halloween has always been an interesting holiday. When I was a kid, I would love to dress up in my chosen costume. My favorite as child seemed to be a pirate, mostly because mom and dad let me carry my plastic sword. As a tomboy, I found it awesome to be able to carry a “weapon.” As an adult it seems a little silly, but it will always be a fond little memory.
As I got older, Halloween became less and less of a celebrated occasion. I was too old to trick or treat. Being a complete scaredy cat when it comes to anything horror related, I wasn’t going to try any of the haunted houses, a corn maze or anything that could turn into something dark and scary. I was content to watch “Hocus Pocus” and help my parents hand out candy.
In college, I chose to dress up a few times for different outings, but nothing really memorable. It was usually something I could pull together from my closet. The first time in my adulthood I actually spent money on a costume was for a high school friend’s wedding. She loved everything about Halloween and lucky for her, Halloween fell on a Saturday the year she got married.
The reception was a big Halloween party and guests were asked to dress for the occasion. I bought a Pink Ladies jacket from the movie “Grease” and wore high heels, that’s an usual occurrence for me. It was fun to dress up as Rizzo for the night.
When my husband, Tim and I had our first Halloween together, we had two dress up events to attend. One was trivia night at the Fore Seasons. I broke out my Pink Ladies jacket and Tim wore his leather jacket and his best 50s rebel outfit. He even slicked back his hair for the full T-Bird effect.
We saved our best couples costume for the actual Halloween party. Tim and I talked for weeks what famous couple we wanted to dress up as. I was doing a little online shopping and came across our perfect match — Fred and Wilma Flintstone. I loved it. I had the white dress, the white rock necklace and the red wig to complete the ensemble. Tim looked great as Fred, although he refused to wear a black haired wig. My Fred was dirty blonde that night. Tim still calls me Wilma every now and then when he’s trying to be funny, usually when I am little perturbed at him. It makes me laugh, and I forget what made me cross. We have those costumes neatly stored away, ready to go for any impromptu dress up party in the future.
Tim did convince me to try a haunted house for our next Halloween — it was a haunted barn actually. I tried my best to get through it with grace, but by the end I was in a full on panic. It will take a lot of convincing to get me to try another one of those.
This Halloween was the first in our new house. We bought plenty of candy in preparation, having no idea how many little ghosts and goblins might visit us on Beggars’ Night. By the end of the night, we didn’t get a single trick-or-treater. I guess the rainy weather might have been a factor, but it is more of an illustration about how Beggars’ Night has changed in the 20 some years since I was kid. Tim and I were a little bummed our first Halloween at the house wasn’t more exciting. I know some neighborhoods in Newton are more popular than others, so I guess we know ours isn’t as well traveled.
Halloween is such a fun time to see all of the creative costumes parents and kids can create. Tim and I aren’t deterred, our front lights will be back on next year with a friendly smile and plenty of candy to greet any child who wishes to knock on our door. I can’t wait to see what Tim and I’s next All Hallows’ Eve has in store.
Contact Pam Pratt at
pampratt@newtondailynews.com