My birthday is 5 days before Halloween. Other than “that explains a lot, Susan” it also means that, as a kid growing up, one of my birthday presents was always my Halloween costume. Even at a young age, I knew that was a bit of a cop-out-rip-off birthday present, but I also knew that money was tight. I was so happy to be getting a costume. It also meant that every birthday was also a tiny costume party of one, starring Me. Now, for a kid who basked in the spotlight, this guaranteed audience of ooo’s and aaah’s was the best present ever.
So, my favorite Halloween costume? I honestly don’t recall. Well, I vaguely remember a Wonder Woman outfit. But regardless, I’m sure it was one of those off-the-rack, highly flammable, ties-in-the-back and comes with the plastic mask with eye holes and that thin elastic string thing. And the accompanying adoring fans. And cake. My imagination supplied the golden lasso.
Sheer bliss occurred if my birthday also happened to fall on a Saturday. In the small California town where I grew up, post Saturday morning cartoons were followed by “Creature Feature” afternoons. I could sit in my costume and watch Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney and – oh, who was the guy who always played Van Helsing…. Peter Cushing! Talk about formative.
Flash forward to today. I’m still the same little kid reveling in all day feasts of ghost stories only the costume I’m wearing now if my laptop and Creature Feature is now called Haunt Spots. One thing hasn’t changed in all these years. I’m still grinning from ear-to-ear.
Oh yes, and my costume now? Some days, like today, it’s a robe and pj’s because I jumped out of bed, booted up and started typing. Which means I’m dressed up like a home-based business person. And grinning from ear-to-ear.
Happy Haunts,
Susan Scot Fry
Caper Company Tours
www.CaperCompany.com
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Creature Feature! Ah, what Saturday afternoon memories. Hey, I wear the same thing to work, but without a robe since it’s always hot here. Since I work at home, in the summertime, I usually wear a swimsuit and jump into the pool for a few minutes each hour. Nowadays, it’s workout gear since I get up early to hit the machines. I always wanted a Halloween birthday like one of my friends had when we were growing up. He said he hated sharing his b-day with a holiday but since birthdays are fun and Halloween is even more fun, seemed to me like a match made in heaven. 🙂
When I was little, my fairy princess costume was probably my favorite. As an adult, I preferred the more scary gruesome costumes. I made a costume of me as a giant tube of toothpaste and finally scanned the picture of it and will post it soon.
Autumnforest – It’s getting cold here in Wisconsin, so that robe now also includes fuzzy socks tucked into slippers. Sure, I could put on real clothes, but hey….
Julie – Giant tube of toothpaste!!! Yes – that rocks! Hope to see that picture soon.
Thanks for chiming in.
Oh I like the homebased business suit myself 😉 I think I was meant to be born in October but some how my cards dealt july (sigh). Happy almost birthday my new friend!!
You know, this post and all the resulting comments brought me A LOT of comfort. Here I was feeling kind of like a bum for always being in my PJs to do my work (especially in the a.m.s but sometimes I stay that way the whole day through!), yet now I feel like if you work at home, that’s the norm! (But I am envious of Autumnforest having a pool right there at her house! Oh, how I loved our pool when we lived in AZ. I’m really trying to talk my husband into one of those swim spas, but…no luck yet!)