Dropping the Mask....

Halloween has always been a "curious" Holiday. Each year it seems to grow a bit more in its popularity. More promotion to buy things and somehow use it as a transition to skip over "Thanksgiving" right into the Christmas Season.
At a small biker gathering I brought a bunch of candy to the home in a small black cauldron, and watched how big raw bikers selected each little candy-corn and devour it was such finesse. It was somewhat inspiring, as if memories were held in simple pieces of candy.

The next night, I attended My first Halloween party after many years of not doing anything on Halloween. Everyone that attended was dressed in costume, and what I found interesting was the "choices" that people make in choosing costumes. Its almost like an outer extension of themselves. A little glimpse into an "alter" personality.

My first costume when I was seven, I was a "ballerina" because I liked all the sequins it had on the costume. And I had a ton of make-up on My face like real ballerinas. Strangely enough, I never seemed to let go of the "sequin fetish" , if it shines from the rack then soon it will find its way into My closet. I must have not liked all the makeup though, because I loathe wearing any make-up to this day. I didn't dress up for this particular party, thinking of course "no one dresses up anymore". To My surprise, I was the only one not in costume. Usually, its the other way around, I'll show up in costume and everyone will be in street clothing drinking some strange concoction with dry ice coming off the top.

Dressing up in costumes seems to not only give a glimpse into an alter side of a person, it seems to make them "act out" what they are dressed as. There was a couple of "hippies" that danced like it was the 60's while rap themed music was on. A "Hulk Hogan" kept flexing His muscles every time he moved, and so on. Though, I wonder, about the irony of Halloween, as it seems to let is drop the masks of our guarded images on a Holiday when we are supposed to wear them.

Does Halloween give us more of a licence to act in ways that we wouldn't normally do, and allow us the freedom to go back to the things we did as children without judgement? I found this to be true while observing the Host of this party. She was an all out crazy - show your boobs- kiss all over everyone who was there. I admit. My eyes shot darts at her as I watched her. I thought she was annoying and obnoxious, and yet, I kind of wished I was having that much fun that night, instead of sitting off to the side costume less. I was an outcast amongst the outcasts.

And as the homes are adored in orange lights and big blow up Halloween ornaments, I happen to miss the simplicity of the carved pumpkin with the small candle in the window, and the small little orange "UNICEF" boxes that were handed out in grammar school.

But most of all I want to dedicate this to my "other half" who could drop his own "tough-guy mask" and chuckle at me as I was shooting darts at the host that night, as she strutted around in front of Him and being able to see right thorough my own territorial mask, teaching me sometimes we all drop our Masks.