Today's Bliss: Halloween Memories

I have always liked Halloween. It is a fun time to dress up, eat some candy, and enjoy time with friends and family. Costumes are always exciting and for a while, my family owned a novelty store that had some awesome rental costumes that were a lot of fun to wear!

Over the years, one Halloween memory sticks out in my mind. When I was young, I was a dedicated reader of American Girl Magazine. One year, they featured a host of awesome Halloween costume ideas and there was one that I just had to try for my own trick or treating: a bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans. My very artistic father recreated the logo for me...I hunted down a giant, clear trash bag to fill with colorful balloons the perfect size so as to not fall out of the perfectly cut leg and arm holes...I found brightly colored tights...and I painted my face with bright, jelly bean shapes. I was ready! Off I went with my dad and some neighborhood girls to trick or treat. It was a lot of fun until the sixth house, when I noticed that the leg holes of my jelly bean sack started to tear a bit and I was loosing a jelly bean (balloon) each time I took a step. Uh oh! I walked more carefully, trying to save my super cute costume! But, alas, the further we walked, the more balloons escaped from my costume. I was so mad and so upset: why would a magazine promote a costume that had so many flaws? By the time I got home, I had no balloons left in my costume. Instead of looking like a bag of Jelly Bellys I looked like a garbage sack-wearing girl with a rainbow of colors on her face.

Looking back on this story, I laugh. It was a funny experience, although I didn't think that at the time! What I am most grateful for when I think about this trick or treat adventure is that I remember it so well. I remember my dad's dedication to making my costume and my trick or treating fun; my mom's help pulling my dream Halloween look together. I was a lucky girl to have a family who wanted to have as much fun as I did.

This year for Halloween N and I were part of a Trunk or Treat at church. There were a lot of refugee children who came to the event and I could not help but wonder what they were thinking about us...adults dressed in crazy outfits handing out free candy?!? A little weird to an outsider, I am sure! But, no matter what they thought, everyone left with something sweet and it was a great way to reach out to the community around us and show them that we care.

Have a blissful Halloween!