It seems like this past Halloween deserves a blog post. For me, it was a fun one. Normally I would just wear an orange golf shirt and black slacks to school on 10/31 but this year our school staff was encouraged to dress in costumes. I was fine with that but didn’t go overboard with personal creativity. Wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts and sunglasses, I dressed as a ‘Beach Bum.’
That’s me at my classroom desk, dressed as a ‘Beach Bum.’
However, many of my co-workers really got into the dress up bit. Several staff members dressed as various members of Snow White’s dwarves. Others had witch’s get-ups and other fun outfits. Most of the younger kids dressed up and there was a parade through the school and lots of treats given out. The youngest of the kids were so sweet and polite.
My students were good with all the Halloween fun and I shared with them some creepy scary mini-movies from You Tube along with the full length feature of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Some of my class had never seen Michael’s classic opus and they really liked it.
Driving home to dish out candy to trick or treaters, I saw a creepy yet cool sight. A couple blocks east of my house someone tied a red balloon to a sewer grate. It floated about with no other sign or decoration. Those who’ve seen “It” knows what that red balloon by the sewer is all about!
Two blocks from my house I saw a similar type of scene as this photo. Fans of “It” know to not get too close .
The kids coming to my door were a riot. Lots of princesses, fire fighters, vampires, skeletons and of course little tots dressed in furry animal costumes. Most trick or treaters were accompanied by their parents toting traveler mugs filled with coffee or perhaps something a little stronger as they sweetly reminded their off spring to tell their candy givers, “Thank you” and “Happy Halloween.”
My neighbors next door just had their first baby 6 weeks ago and they dressed as Portillo’s workers with their baby boy wrapped up in a tiny hot dog costume. I thought that was clever and hilarious.
In the late afternoon, barricades were put up for a block party and a really cool Haunted House bounce house/giant inflatable slide was set up in the street. The neighborhood kids and other trick or treaters went nuts for this bit of fun.
The housewife who coordinated much of the party invited me to join the other adults for cocktails, snacks and a band that was set to play after dinner. However, after a long week with my behavior issue students, I was too tired to head out. The band could be heard playing for a couple hours and they rocked out songs by John Mellencamp, Van Morrison and other classic artists.
The next morning, I dropped off a ‘sorry to be a no show’ note to the party planners and witnessed the fall-out from the bash. Several tables were still laid out with chairs, leftover snacks, sweets, empty wine and booze bottles and two coolers with a few cans of beer left in them. Bottom line, my younger neighbors know how to party!
NOT an actual photo from the Swain avenue Halloween Block Party but trust me, my neighbors know how to party!
The good news is next Halloween is on a Saturday so I’ll be ready with a more creative costume and hopefully another fun block party on my street!
Next blog- Tony and Pat set the standard.