Ghosts of Halloweens Past

GRATEFUL GIRL'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Look, I may have been a little hard on Halloween lately. Fine, I admit it.

In my defense, in addition to all the fore-mentioned trauma induced by the last day of October during so many different years for old PK -- there have been a few that stunk up the place like a rotting zombie for her boy, as well.

There was baby Kyle's first Halloween which was an absolute fever-filled crud fest.  He was adorable in that little hand-sewn lion outfit (a friend made it) right up until his temp spiked to 102-degrees, when he became utterly miserable. BTW, so was Mommy who couldn't convey to the party goers downstairs that she was sorry to spoil their beer and candy fest but that she simply wanted some quiet for her wee one's recuperation. #gohomewhenthebabygetssickpeople

Then there was the time at a friend's party when all the kids were bobbing for apples and some creep of an older kid tried to hold Kyle's little noggin under water. Not only did he almost lose a few fingers that night, but he also narrowly escaped meeting that Great Pumpkin in the sky, Capisce? Suffice it to say, that boy is likely terrified of curly-haired Italian women everywhere to this very day. #donotmessiwthmychild 

Finally, there was the year my girlfriend Lizzie and I thought it'd be a great idea to take our preschool and second-grade sons to the local high school art department's haunted cafeteria. "How scary could it be?" we mused, both helicopter Moms of only boys who admittedly have been a little protective over the years. Either way, in response to our question of how frightening it might be inside those high school walls? Apparently, quite.

"WELCOME TO THE BOWELS OF HELL!" screamed a boy dressed as a demon as we walked into the first "Room of Terror." Entrails everywhere, ghosts galore, crazy clowns crowding every inch; I nearly lost my lunch myself! Liz's boy buried his head in her shoulder and mine took off for the hills. #shudder

Sure that we'd done permanent damage to their psyches, we tried to erase what they'd seen with hot fudge sundaes immediately after bolting faster than the headless horseman outta there. #goodmomsbutbadcall

Then again, some of the happiest memories I'll ever have are of Kyle in his Spiderman, Harry Potter and Iron Man costumes; over-the-moon happy carving pumpkins with his Dad and awaiting salty seeds of its innards from his Mom as he got ready to set out  to score more chocolate than Charlie and that famous factory.

Fine, Halloween holds a small but special place in my heart --- thanks to the friendly ghosts of Halloweens past. But I'm still keeping my eye out for that Beelzebobber, you dig?

​#iwillneverforgetthatkidsface

​
Ps 68:2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21 R. (21a) Our God is the God of salvation. God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. But the just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling.  God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. Blessed day by day be the Lord, who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation. God is a saving God for us; the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. R. Our God is the God of salvation. Alleluia Jn 17:17b, 17a R. Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

---