If I were invited to a Halloween party this year, I’d have the perfect costume in mind to wear. I can usually dream up something last minute to pull it off.
When I did dress up (aka, back when we had kids around, pre-empty nest) I would base costumes on a current wardrobe I had in the closet or something themed to what was currently going on in my life.
When the kids were tiny tots, we had very little extra funds, so I made them their costumes. And I went as their mom wearing a shirt that fit me and my mood at the time. I later turned it into a pumpkin carving shirt instead of a costume.
When the kids got old enough to decide what they wanted to be, I’d still help them pull off their costume ideas with things we had around the house.
Simple, right? Easy.
That was about the time in our lives when Mr.’s corporate job deemed an early retirement was in store for him and I went back to work full-time. And the kid’s earlier costume parts became repurposed for me to wear.
Then my mom lost her husband on the day before Halloween, and things got blurry for me. As did they for her.
She loved Halloween, so did her husband. The holiday became less about dressing up, and more about me helping her deal with her failing health and depression from losing her spouse.
Shortly after that time, my baby was the last one in the family to go trick or treating – dressed as a baby.
And then we just did the pumpkin carving thing, until that got too old to do too. About that time our oldest moved out on her own in 2010. But dang, we were creative over the years!
The year our youngest was to graduate from High School (2012-2013), I lost my mom. I was still working and managing a subsection of a department in a company that was due to close at the end of the year. I had a lot on my mind and I was on a hunt for a new job.
We were two women paving our way through uncharted paths of change. Throughout it all, I relied on a part of my psyche that turns into a drill sergeant or a whip cracker (aka, the gift of, as coined by Strength Finder – Responsibility).
Someone has to keep the things going when life throws us obstacles or challenges we’ve never gone through before. I take the role naturally.
Yesterday – as I stood looking out the window at the last rays of sunshine, thinking about our kitchen remodeling project – through the eyes of not getting enough sleep…
I reflected on my mood and my propensity to turn ghostly witch-like when I’m tired and stressed.
I remembered for the 4th time that there was a tiny caulking project that had to be done when the caulk could be applied, i.e., above 40 degrees. So, as a helpful, responsible person that I am, I went to Mr.’s office and said, “I don’t know how to not sound like a nag, but this is the 4th time I’m reminding you about the piece of siding that you’ve wanted to caulk up before the winter arrives.”
Mr.: “Yes, I know. I’ll get to it.”
Me: “I’m sorry, just thought you’d like to know the sun is shining on that side of the house.”
Mr.: “If you don’t stop cracking the whip, I’m going to start fighting back.”
So there…that’s the precise moment I decided on my costume for Halloween.
Except there are some sexy options out there too, that may change Mr.’s mind about me being so witch-like. Nah…too late to order one now.
I don’t need to buy a costume or dress differently. All on my own, I’m an ol’ fashioned empty nest whip cracker. If the costume fits, wear it, right?
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. Linda’s dog Winston is getting into the spirit too. Join us over here for the fun of the prompt by clicking this link.
PS – Who is the whip cracker in your family? Do you have fond memories of dressing up yourself or your kiddos for Halloween? What is your favorite candy? Did you carve pumpkins this year?
I like the way you adapt to new situations all the time, being able to do that is a gift!. We carved a pumpkin two days ago, and we are going to go trick and treating tomorrow. My daughter is dressing up as a witch, I usually dress up with her, but I couldn’t justify the expense this year, I’ll just stay in the background. Maybe I’ll put on a white sheet and pretend I’m a ghost. We’ll see.
Speaking of being the whip cracker in the family, I’d say that is me. My mom passed away when I was 12, and I was the oldest of the kids, I had to make things happen (make sure everyone had eaten, got to school on time etc etc..) Being a single mom you absolutely have to make things happen as well.
Favorite candy would be chocolate 🙂
Hi Shelley,
May you and your family have a great time celebrating the festivity of Halloween 2019!
Wow, the cat-womanlike costumes are certainly very striking and stylish to wear!
I concur with Sagittarius Viking about your adaptability and creativity.
This is going to be the first Halloween without my late mother around me. By the way, thank you very much for leaving a very nice comment for my special post at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2019/08/31/khai-khim-for-always-and-beyond-goodbye/
I have already replied to you with a very bespoke comment there, and hope that you will read it soon.
Aw, thank you, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. Thank you for the reply on your post as well! xx
Your kids were adorable in their costumes! I’m sorry that Halloween also reminds you of the loss of your dad, but I will guess that the positive memories of family during this holiday gets you through.
I used to dress up every year for a local Halloween event, but haven’t gone in a few years. I may need to get out the Viking queen or bird lady costume again. I think you should get a whip-cracking outfit for at home. If for nothing else, to amuse yourself and your husband.
Aw, thank you, Mary. We’re fond of the happy memories of that time in our lives. That’s what they both would’ve wanted us to do.
Ooo…you should dress up and share a post…don’t scare the cats though ;-). LOL – I’m sure Mr. would get a kick out of me dressing the part instead of just acting it.
I am definitely the whip cracker, but hadn’t considered a costume. Probably would make the lists more palatable. LOL. It’s hard to find the perfect day to finish those warm weather tasks, isn’t it? I have one that will probably have to wait until spring. Luckily, it doesn’t involve leaking or water (that I know of). HA!
Hi Laurel,
I hope that your fingers are much better and more nimble.
Happy Halloween 2019 to you and your family!
LOL – if you find a good costume that works so the honey-do-list even looks appealing, let me know! I weeded out the annuals, put away the containers, and called it good for this year. I wish the Christmas lights had been put up, but, I’ve heard, “They’ll be nice days in November.” Tomorrow is November, so we’ll see. Glad your project can wait until Spring without leaks, that’s a GOOD thing!!
Wonderful post! Halloween is probably my favorite holiday. It was fun planning costumes with my kids and seeing them have a blast. I miss the trick or treaters as we now live in an area with no kids. My favorite candy used to be peanut M&Ms or candy corn. But as an adult I gave out Halloween pencils and they were a big hit!!
Aw, thank you, glad you enjoyed the post. I did find that fun, especially when they were tickled with their outcomes. Seeing them have so much fun was my favorite part. We don’t get any trick or treaters either – too far from town. And we turn all the lights off and hide in the basement so there’s no temptation to stop and make us feel like meanies for not having any candy to give. Pencils sound like a great idea!! Happy Halloween to you!!
Happy Halloween 🙂
Wonderful photos. You write it superbly, making it interesting.
Thank you, Indira, I appreciate your words of encouragement. xx
My pleasure, dear.
I’m hiding indoors where it’s nice and warm. But your article did give me good laugh. Quick thinking there Shelley and perhaps he will get the caulking done .🤫😁
Thank you, Julie, glad you enjoyed a laugh. He did get the caulking done, so yay!! 😉
The art of persuasion 😉
Absolutely 🙂
I crack the whip. For the most part I didn’t like dressing up as a kid, but have enjoyed it as an adult. Twix. We carved three pumpkins this year, but it’s supposed to rain tomorrow night for trick or treat, so they may not stay lit outside. Bummer
LOL – and you crack that whip with wit!! I loved Twix bars when I could eat chocolate. They gave me a few extra pounds along the way. I bet your pumpkins are very creative. We always used Christmas lights in our pumpkins – Mr. rigged it up so they’d come on and turn off automatically each night after they were carved. We rarely get trick or treaters. I hope the weather holds out so you can greet the little peeps and get some blog material while you’re at it ;-)!
I really like those pumpkin lights and costumes shown in your numerous photos. Thank you for sharing and writing about them, Shelley.
Thank you, I’m touched you found the post enjoyable!!
Empty nest whip cracker — bwahahahaha!!! Gotta admire your spunk…
I do what I can to keep up with the changing times! 😉
We have no whip crackers. Lol. Things take forever as you can imagine.
I loved dressing up for Halloween. I made costumes for our oldest but by the time Lulu came along 10 years later, my mom had passed and I no longer had her to help me.
My favorite candy is Milk Duds.
We don’t carve pumpkins 🎃 any more. Boy we used to though. I’ve always multi purposed the insides into delicious baked goodies. Now I bit a small one, cut it in half and bake it to use later. Much easier than the carve scoop cut and boil.
LOL – the leisurely approach to projects isn’t bad unless you’ve got a deadline and dinner guests due to arrive, right? See…there’s the whip cracker in me rearing her ugly side! Aw – I miss my mom for helping with costumes too – she had a box full of options and dressed up often, I do have her earrings, I’ll wear them today in honor of her. I didn’t mind the duds as long as I didn’t try to chew them.
I’ve never cooked the pumpkin, just the seeds, and that took way longer than the desire to eat them warranted. I’ve never had pumpkin cookies, just bars…cookies sound yummy!!
Great pics of the girls through the years, and you of course, all in costume. Where is Copper’s costume? 🙂 Our weather will be beyond crummy and I have not passed out candy in years – no one else does around me and so I stopped doing so too. We only got about 10 kids that last year I passed out candy. They have restrictions here – 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. trick-or-treating in our City.
Thanks Linda. Copper’s not a fan of dressing up or trick or treaters – he wears himself out barking and shaking. We hide in the basement to look like we’re not home.
Same here – we won’t have many trick-or-treaters with these high winds and snow flurries.
If it was me I know I wouldn’t want to go out in it. My daughter said they got about 6 inches of snow in Southern WI. Way too early for this much snow and cold!
I wouldn’t go out either Shelley and 6 inches of snow would not be to my liking either. Yikes! You’d better whisper in Copper’s ear that soon he’ll be using his “space” and to prepare for cold feet. It just started snowing lightly here. They mentioned it on the 9:00 p.m. news and I looked out – yup, the white stuff. We had an inch of rain today and an inch and a half yesterday – SMH.
I fear that winter is here…
Me too!