I have sinned and repented; as such, I will not be dressing up this year for Halloween. I am acutely aware from past transgressions that I have done enough in this arena. Too many photos of me in old costumes lying around to remind me of the reality of what seems like a good idea at the time in hindsight rarely is.

I would like to offer two photos into evidence on the above point. The first was from the mid-nineties (when you would have thought I would have been old enough to know better) and the second was from Halloween 2002 (previously made point still applies). Both photos were equally scandalous.

  

As for that pirate outfit – OMG – what was I thinking? In the photo with me is a former beau from many moons ago – Florin Campean (Florin recently married a lovely gal and moved from Cali to Nebraska – we have both moved on from our days of “Arggh!”). I did have shorts on under that outfit as I recall it, but I am not sure where they are as that skirt was mighty short.

As for the pregnant angel…well, I had a devil at my side for that one but he has been extracted from the photo (I will refrain from commentary on whether he was wearing a costume or the devil was his true persona – but hey, I am not bitter). With this costume I had a pin that said – “The devil made me do ‘it’ !” It was a big hit – albeit it seemed a tad sacrilegious (I had to say a few dozen prayers in penance for that one). My daughter Sarah borrowed this costume last year and won the costume contest at her work. Apparently folks don’t see pregnant angels all that often.

No more dressing up for me…in my right mind I realize that it is probably not prudent. But, with a child in the house the costuming still goes on – gleefully in the case of Cheyenne.  Some of my favorite photos of all time are of Cheyenne in her costumes. Her Vampira costume from a couple years back was such a hit that it made the annual family photo calendar with the caption, “Dateless in West Fargo.” Those teeth made her drool so much that she opted to take them out while trick-or-treating, but she relished posing for photos with her dour look.

Dateless in West Fargo

 

She’s got a new attitude!

I really enjoyed the year of the pink cat costume (and I say year as these costumes make multiple appearances throughout the year as Cheyenne sees fit). This was Cheyenne’s first older kid costume (you know the drill – beyond the Disney or TV characters, clowns, etc. promoted and endorsed by mom and into the “I want to pick my own costume while mom crosses her fingers and holds her breath” mode). The pink cat costume seemed to come packaged with attitude. Cheyenne was so self-confident in that costume that it sold me on the whole notion of allowing her to pick her own costume with limited interference (although it is tempting to interfere as the girl’s costumes seem to be getting more and more inappropriately sexy every year – or perhaps it is just me getting older, less tolerant and more prudish – I’ll have to think about that one).

This year Cheyenne will be a modern day witch with green hair, a huge feathered glam witch hat and all the other necessary witch apparel. It is a rated “G” costume and absolutely adorable. She will not be trick-or-treating (she thinks she is getting a bit old for that), but will instead be passing out candy at her Grandma’s house.

As for me, I will be heading to Florida for a conference early in the day on Halloween and the only costume I intend to wear is that of a woman who has learned from her past Halloween costume mistakes – all that requires is a knowing smile. That I can do.

Day one hundred and seventeen of the new forty – obla di obla da

CC