A chaotic Halloween scene, from left to right: Myself, in high chair; my Grandma Reade, fussing over me; my Aunt Arlene in robber mask (we still have this mask); Dad hamming it up; and my Grandpa Reade leading in, no doubt running in at the last minute after turning on the timer on the camera. In front a homemade Halloween cake, likely with hidden foil money and jokes inside.
Our family has always enjoyed Halloween get togethers. We’ve always kept each other company as a family, as it can be a bit lonely and dark once the sun sets. Dad would have great fun decorating the house in the festive spirit, although he’d always stay out of the room during pumpkin carving. He did not love that squashy smell!
We often dressed up, ordered in pizza, enjoyed some kind of gloppy icing confection, roasted pumpkin seeds, and shared many laughs.
Dad would usually have a tape of very campy haunted house sounds playing in the background (groans and screams, chains and footsteps, creaking doors – the usual!). Dad’s snoopy pumpkin, and my Grandma and Grandpa’s ceramic light up haunted house would always make an appearance, too:
In later years we watched spooky, schlocky classics – older sensitive to my tendency for sensory overload. Last year’s was Frankenstein; previous to that, we had watched a couple of classic Vincent Price movies.
Dad and I would also go for a walk, hand in hand (or mitt in glove) to get a feel for the pulse on the street and check out neighbourhood decorations and pumpkin carvings.
I think Halloween appealed to Dad’s delightfully fun and theatrical side. He’d gotten into theatre as early as Junior High and continued dabbling in theatre throughout his adult life, even acting in a couple of Fringe plays.
His absence is all too painful today- our first Halloween without him. During this first bleak wasteland year without Dad we’ve no plans to celebrate, but hopefully next year will be able to honour his playfulness and love of the holiday in new ways.
As Hallowtide begins, I am looking forward to All Souls Day/Night (rooted in paganism) in a couple days- it will be an opportunity to reflect on all the beloved friends and family who have passed into the next realm. Dad thought the premise of this time to honour and celebrate the dead was a beautiful concept, and I agree. To set the mood, I invite a listen to Loreena McKennitt’s All Souls Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07eWCY65Q0A