Community. Its a long road.

Ghost Kitten!

Halloween is one of my favorite nights of the year.  I blame it on my mother who not only helped us create some awesome costumes over the years (when I was five I wanted to be a roller-skating waitress, even though I couldn't roller-skate and we lived by a bunch of hills, she dragged me up those hills even though it was freezing and raining), and she always went above and beyond decorating the house.  She created wonder and excitement for pretty much every holiday and it is infectious, even to this day.  It was always so exciting getting the holiday decorations out of the crawl space and opening them up after a year of being plunged into the unconscious.  Rediscovering those purchases bought for 80% off at Joann's after the last Halloween and looking around and feeling that sense of imagination/spookiness/love come to life by the placement of a few knickknacks and battery operated spiders. 

This is something I now love to do at our house.  Hell I did it before but now with a basement full of space I can expand my collection of goods (much to the horror of B.Jones).  I love taking the time to do it slowly, thoughtfully, taking each piece and placing it just so.  Hearing the kids catch my enthusiasm as they walk to school, with it I am taken back to being 6 and getting back with my loot and dumping it all out on the floor so my dad could "inspect" it (aka take a couple of the choice pieces) before my sister and I would have an hour long trading session with intense negotiations for various pieces of treasured sweets.  Handing out candy & glow sticks this year (which turned out to be a success!) was really fun because our street is super busy.  I love seeing the kids feel excited, scared, happy, nervous...the youngers clutching to their siblings while the olders brave ahead .....with no electronics tied to them or what not.  Kids were like this 50 years ago and they are still like this.

It is so fleeting and so beautiful.

This year was even more special because for the first year ever I had people trick-or-treat at my house who I actually knew!  Children who I had hugged, pinched and played with arrived in a variety of costumes.  New friends & neighbors dropped by to "help" me by bringing their extra candy (will be hitting the gym HARD tomorrow)...oy....it is a milestone for us.....this community we are creating, even though slow on the uptake it is being formed.  This is a space we haven't been before, one I wished for and worried would never come.  A place where I know my neighbors stories, struggles & successes.  Hell before this year I didn't even know their children's names!  That we now have shared adventures, and dog pettings makes it even that much sweeter this night of laughter & magic.

We are not all there yet.  This community is not complete but at least I realized it is starting.  It is worth the journey and even better because of it.