That's not to say I don't enjoy a good costume party, indeed I do. And by good, I mean when people put a lot of thought behind their costumes, not just some cheap costume they picked up at a store that came out of a package for $29.99. I love some of the pastry treats and decorations people make. To me, Halloween is about imagination, more than the spookiness and masters of macabre.
Aside from the vast commercialism behind the holiday, what bothers me most is the trick or treat aspect of the so-called holiday, the door to door begging for candy. It's lost it's luster over the years. The older kids are obnoxious and greedy. It's simply not safe anymore. It's burdensome. There's either too many kids, not enough candy or not enough kids and leftover candy you have to eat. So, of course, you have to buy stuff you like because when you buy stuff you like, there's none leftover. If you buy stuff you don't like, no one comes to the door and you're stuck having to finish off a bunch of candy you dislike. Or, there's crappy weather and Halloween is a total bust. So many Halloweens were ruined by rain, snow or frigid temps, which is just the pits for girls dressed as Genies or Harem girls. What good is Halloween if your costume is covered by a parka or you have so many layers of clothes on underneath the costume, you can't move? There is just so much money wasted on decorations, candy and costumes--the holiday is really a gamble. I think schools or communities or churches or families should hold Halloween parties that kids can attend and do away with the door to door thing, this way they are guaranteed a celebration. By the way, I don't want Halloween crap turning up in the stores and on lawns in August or September so that by the time the occasion arrives, I'm so sick of it, I want to shoot inflatible lawn decorations. (The same goes for Christmas too, but that's another beast for another blog). Just parties where people and kids can go and not have to worry about that door to door business anymore.
Getting back to September, however, there is something about the smell of the morning air that still reminds me of walking to school or the bus stop, in my new clothes, with a slight chill in the air. I wish I could enjoy a cup of morning coffee on my deck in the early September mornings to get that feeling again, however, this particular September, after a long hot season following a very mild winter, it seems to have upset the eco system in my yard just enough that the bugs are simply atrocious. If the mosquitoes, gnats, no seeums, and flies aren't enough to drive me crazy, the spiders are and they are everywhere. The large Orb Weaver spiders are constantly at work in the evenings, crocheting several large webs connecting plants, trellis slats, deck chairs, the table and grill into what I think, if left undisturbed, would become one giant cocoon which would envelope a human being. One morning, I awoke to find 5 webs spun. Today, I awoke to find not just a giant web, but the spider and it's prey, a butterfly, glistening in the morning sunlight and dew. I do not know what they do for the other months of the year, but without fail, spiders always seem to be in abundance and make themselves noticed in September and October more than any other time of the year.
I remember walking to school as a kid, cutting through my backyard and down the driveway of our back neighbor. Every morning, I would stare in amazement at the gigantic web that connected the big evergreen bush to Mrs. Condon's garage and it would glisten so magnificantly in the morning sun, the dew making it look as though it had been sewn with tiny diamonds. Even 40 years later, I remember how fantastic that web was, although I don't ever recall ever seeing its artist, who was no doubt waiting patiently for its next meal. The webs were easily 4-5 feet long by two feet or more wide, the largest webs I've ever seen. Occasionally, it would disappear, only to reappear a day or so later, just like the ones on my deck. How can such horrid creatures weave such beautiful works of art?
I don't like spiders, but they fascinate me so long as they are outside. I am often amused by the reactions of others who freak out over them, especially when they are grown men. My 6'3" foot, 230 lb. stepson is terrified of spiders and once nearly plowed me over, running from one of the Orb Weavers which appeared in front of his face one evening on our deck. Pushing me out of the way as he ran and screamed like a girl, I was impaled by the corner of our counter, bruising my rib as I laughed hysterically at his reaction. Recently, my niece seriously threatened to unfriend me on Facebook if I posted anymore arachnids on my wall, saying she had to run to the bathroom nearly heaving from fear at the macro shot that appeared on the News Feed. I don't mean to laugh, but . . . hahahahahaha.
Trick or treat. . . Happy early Halloween?
