Friday, October 31, 2008

The Witching Time


Backward, turn backward,
O time, in your flight
make me a child again
just for to-night!

~Elizabeth Akers Allen

How I miss the anticipation and excitement of Halloween as a child. Darkness couldn't fall fast enough, and dinner time couldn't have passed any slower.

My brother and I were partners in crime on this night of crisp fall air and moonglow. Forget those teeny tiny plastic orange pumpkins...to carry our loot, we needed something much more substantial. But despite our best efforts, a pillow case just cannot be filled completely during these fleeting trick-or-treat hours.

Nevertheless, we managed to satisfy our own personal candy quota and would hold trading and bartering sessions once we got home, each of us slyly thinking we got the better end of the deal.

I love Halloween. I love the spooky ambience and the nostalgia of it all. The smell of pumpkin guts is really not a pleasant smell...but it becomes so when it is connected with early childhood memory.

Nowadays, I am not much of a costume girl. But Taro couldn't wait to don his wizard hat and wish you all a frightfully Happy Halloween!

14 comments:

  1. I don't do much for Hallowe'en now. But if and when I have wee folk, I can't wait to celebrate properly :-)

    Happy Hallowe'en!

    Cxx

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  2. I just found your site today and I'm not sure which captivates me more - your photography or your writing. Both are exceptional.

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  3. Oh, Taro looks like he wouldn't give me any candy if I knocked on your door! :)

    Tonight I am costuming myself all up for the first time in years - fake fingernails that glow in the dark & everything! I will visit Miss Mary & take her Halloween treats, then stop by my mother's with more of the same, and then off to a party in the woods - I hope I don't get lost! There will be a hayride to take us even farther into the woods - motor homes & trailers so that no one will drink & drive; they will just spend the night there. There was chili cooked last night (the ever-wonderful Michael is already spending his evenings out there) & all is good to go. PLUS I will have a few moments to watch my neighborhood Extravaganza - I saw the cage full of skeletons on my neighbor's yard this morning!

    So for tonight only time is making me a child again!

    :) Debi

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  4. halloween has never bene celebrated in my country. and now you wonderful folks make me wonder how much fun i may have missed

    adorable bunny :)

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  5. yes "make me a child again just for tonight." Halloween was an exciting time growing up. Now I live in a neighborhood that doesn't even get any trick-or-treaters and I miss that.

    adorable bunny

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  6. Taro looks wonderfully wizardish, and your post was delightful, as always.

    I had to laugh when I got to the part about the smell of pumpkin guts. As you know, I've only just begun teaching second grade and fourth is a world apart. In many ways, this year feels like my first Halloween since childhood. My new hall is full of first and second grade with one kindergarten class. We walked in from recess yesterday and I said, "Oh my! What is that smell?"

    My kids immediately said, "Mrs. Lawson! That's pumpkin guts!"

    Oh!!

    How could I have forgotten?

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  7. :):) Oh my goodness...how cute is he? We had such a wonderful Halloween...unseasonably warm...and each of the kids got over ten pounds of candy!

    Let the insanity begin!

    xo

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  8. tee hee ... that is soooo cute!! xo

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  9. Of course YOU will have such a cutie pie for a pet! He is adorable! (like you!) xx

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  10. What a wonderful photo of Taro... he looks so cute :-)

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  11. Taro? As in taro root for poi???
    Your post had me giggling! What a great photo of Taro!
    Halloween is fun. I love greeting the kids at the door to see what they will be wearing.
    We usually do up our house to some degree; not as theatrical as we used to do it when we had more time and enrgy.
    But, there is something magical about bieng able to don a costume and be someone else for a spell.

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  12. Happy belated Hallowe'en right back!

    But I wanted to say - that last post - WOW!!! You gave me goosebumps. I'm going back to read it again and again!

    How are you anyway? I've missed you!!

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  13. Taro, and whiskering hope for bonbons? he's so serious...wish he could smile!

    very cute !!
    j

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  14. Taro is adorable! I love Halloween...it was so fun this year! The kids were so giddy and excited. I am sad it's over, it came and went so fast...

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