No, I've not gone through a spelling or dictionary usage complex. I believe the two words used in the title can be accurate descriptions of how I view Halloween these days.
In the nearly seven years that I've known my stepmother Marilyn, she has me beat all-time (and that's 35 years) in Halloween spirit. She sends cards, stickers & gifts like she would at Christmas. For some reason, I never really caught that Halloween bug, even at the prime child stage. When I first realized about Halloween, I was more content watching my mother pass out the candy & comment on costumes.
Only four occasions really stand out in my memory for going out trick-or-treating. The first was 1976, when I went as the cartoon character Underdog. Now I had an aversion to masks at the time, partially because of reduced sight, but also because I was scared to death of that rubber band in the back snapping & hitting my face. The alternative was to be dressed up in exaggerated makeup to match the costume. I hated being "made-up", and even at age 5, was dying from embarassment.
One year (1982) though, I was determined to wear the entire Snoopy costume that was purchased, including the mask... I didn't want to be recognized. Sure enough, approaching the second house and adjusting the mask for comfort, SNAP! Back came the embarassment, and I wanted to end the trek right there. Good thing I didn't, because my father really dug through the candy that year!
Then I went as Superman the next year, and I do have a photo of that one, but darned if I can't find the wires to hook up the computer scanner! I do hope to share that with you at a later date.
The last year I really went (1984), was last-minute with no signs of planning or preparation. Simply place two pillows on my belly, borrow one of my father's T-shirts, and bingo: a 350 pound fat man at no cost. If I really ate like I was supposed to, everyone would accuse me of not wearing a costume. By now, just the thought of going out was embarassing, knowing I would not eat the candy given me. I gave it up after that year.
It also didn't help that other kids in the neighborhood had a dying interest as well, replaced by transplants from other neighborhoods, some of whom would be college age, and with my luck in costume design. This really cheapened things.
The last time I handed out candy was in 2003, and this time I decided I would dress up as a Western outlaw in doing so. My roommate dressed as a ninja in full costume. His costume was a winner, as it scared all the kids. He finally took off the mask to quiet a doubting kid, and all the kid said afterwards was, "But where's the man?" You had to see this to appreciate the humor in it.
I tease him about it all the time, but I have more reason to be teased. He took a break from giving out candy, and I took over, sitting on the porch. Two entire groups of kids walked right past my house without noticing me! I was starting to throw candy in their direction (like they do in parades), and they never even noticed that either! So much for being an outlaw, I was the invisible man!
No, Halloween doesn't really hold a place for me, though I do appreciate all the little things my stepmom sends. I only note it for the day before, the so-called Detroit area "Angels Night"; always looking forward to the newscast that the inner city has been wiped out, thereby letting them start over from scratch again.
We could never be that lucky.
