Pick Your Poison

Halloween was just a few days ago. As I sat in my neighbor’s driveway that night enjoying a hearty bowl of hot soup, good conversation, creepy music in the background, skeletons, cobwebs, and ghosts strewn about the yard; I thought back to a time when I probably wouldn’t have attended such a party.

It was before we had children. Matt had never celebrated Halloween being from Jamaica, where it’s not a recognized holiday. Nor did he understand the point. Me, on the other hand, analyzed the holiday, studied it’s origins, and decided that based on the evil surrounding it, I was going to have no part of it. No carved pumpkins or scary décor; no Fall Fests or Halloween alternative events; no candy for trick or treaters. Nothing. I was going to boycott the whole creepy affair, and be the neighbor who would shut her house up tight on Halloween night, and protect her future babies from all things evil.

Right…

And then these two precious pumpkins showed up. They were sweet and cute, and through their toddler and pre-school years, loved all things dress up, pretend and imaginary. Halloween made its appearance that October, like it does every year, and boy were they intrigued. Not only was this a night to dress up and socialize with neighbor kids, but it was also a night to collect candy. Lots and lots of candy. I mean seriously, even at three and five-years-old, no argument against Halloween would have satisfied their desire to participate.

So I caved. We bought the decorations, the candy, and the costumes. They went trick or treating and had a blast. So did I.

As the years have gone by, it has become one of my favorite times of year. I don’t necessarily love the creepiness Halloween represents, but that’s just because I scare easily.   I do, however, love the opportunity to hang out with neighbors on October 31. We set up lawn chairs in our driveway, haul out the fire pit, make hot apple cider, and then we chat the night away; catching up on kids, vacations, jobs, and life. I would like to believe there is this unwritten “rule” among neighbors that Halloween is the one night in the fall where we gather together and take a break from our busy lives. It’s that time after summer cools down, and before winter settles in, where we can reconnect, and remind ourselves once again that we need each other.

Sometimes connecting with others isn’t about what I want to do, or what makes me feel comfortable. It’s about learning what others find enjoyable, and joining in, because I like being around them.

Who knew I would have learned that lesson all those years ago from two young kiddos just wanting to dress up and collect candy on Halloween?

And as far as protecting these pumpkins from all things evil, yeah, that’s a ginormous challenge. Turns out monsters lurk around every corner at their school. Creepers troll the Internet and social media sites they visit. Thugs pester and prod them on a daily basis in the name of bullying. I’m learning to pick my poison. There are so many things to fear in this life, so why get uptight about a little Halloween fun? I’m choosing a different poison.