What Should I be for Halloween this year…a Clown?

My favorite Halloween costume, without a doubt, was the Clown costume my mom sewed for my sister.

It was very loose fitting, so you could fit your whole outfit on underneath it. No matter how cold or warm it was (which can be pretty cold or hot in Indiana), I could wear the clothes that fit the temperature for that day. It was sewed with love, and it had been my sister’s, which has to make it better, right?!??

It was red and white, so it was festive. Half of it was red material with tiny white flowers, the other half was white material with tiny red flowers (or dots, something like that). I never was one to wear a mask, so my face could be painted a little or a lot, depending on the situation.

I also didn’t really like to fix my hair, and crazy hair is encouraged when trying to look like a clown. I have an easy smile, so smiling when I asked for candy came easily to me.

So that’s my favorite costume, that I wore for multiple years.

But the costume I loved the most? That was year I was allowed to dress like a ‘gypsy’. I’m sure that there is a better word for that….a person without home, a beautiful girl without permanent roots, someone who lived in multiple places.

The year I dressed as a person without a permanent home, I was able to wear real make up. Makeup that enhanced my olive complexion. Giant hoop earrings that nearly touched my shoulders. I was not able to pierce my ears until I was 14, so I did not have pierced ears in 5th grade.

I was able to wear that costume for a fall concert as well. In that fall concert, I sat in the middle of a circle and kept the beat on a drum. ONE two three four ONE two three four ONE….you get the idea. I was able to keep rhythm on a song, AND be the center of attention. AND wear real makeup, when I wasn’t actually allowed to wear it yet. (and I wouldn’t wear it consistently, until I was about 30).

Halloween is fun for some, scary for many, and a time of memories for lots of us. My college age sons were able to attend a costume party this year, and told me about their costumes as they decided what to wear and then how it went.

As we prepare for Halloween this week, let’s focus on the fun times we had as children, or are continuing to have as adults, as that doorbell rings incessantly for calls for more candy. “Trick or treat!!” 

#weeklyprompt #childhoodmemories @thrive