Last week, I was going to a masquerade party, and I was debating if I should ‘dress up’ or not. I decided on just buying a black mask so I would still be part of the crowd and yet be able to slip it off easily as the night wore on.
I went in and out of costume shops and thrift stores and big box stores looking for just a plain black mask with two eyeholes, like the Lone Ranger used to wear. He wore that for years and no one ever figured out who he was. I only needed it for a couple of hours.
There were thousands of costumes to choose from. They ranged in price from $19.95 to $100. I could buy or rent any kind of costume and be whatever or whoever I wanted to be, but I just wanted a black mask.
No wonder we don’t have many heroes around anymore. The Lone Ranger can’t buy a mask and Superman no longer has phone booths to change in. Society has made it difficult for the superhero. Personally, I was always amazed that nobody could tell that Clark Kent wasn’t Superman, I mean, really, just a pair of dark rimmed glasses for a disguise? At the very least Lois Lane should have figured that out.
In one store, a mother had laid out four costumes on the floor for her six-year-old boy to choose from. Our choices were a ghost or a pirate for the boys and a ballerina or a princess for the girls. Basically, anything that could be made by Mom at home.
Studies show the average B.C. family today spends $90 on Halloween, or more if they have more than one child.
The little boy in the store was having trouble making up his mind. I’m a grandpa so I thought I’d offer some advice.
“The Ninja costume comes with a sword, I pointed out. “Yeah!” he exclaimed, “I want the one with the sword.” I thought maybe I would get a quick thank you from his mom for helping, but the look she gave me was more of “Mind your own business.” But he got his Ninja costume.
The sword is an important part of that costume on the trick or treat route. He can poke his sisters with it until they get mad, a great Halloween memory for a brother. If someone has a hockey or fire helmet as part of their costume, he can “boink” them on the head with it until the helmet is wedged on tight or he can slay any number of imaginary ghosts or goblins that might spring from the dark cul-de-sacs.
He will have great fun until one of that adults loses it and grabs it from his hand saying, “That’s enough of that bloody sword.” Trick or treating can be stressful for parents.
Picking out a Halloween costume can be difficult and yet we put on a different costume every day. When we are getting dressed and ready to leave the house, who do we want people to think we are? Can we get through the whole day without anyone seeing who is really behind our mask?
I couldn’t find the mask I wanted so I decided to go as something that strikes fear into all Canadians. I put on a suit and tie and went as a senator. I hope your Halloween has more treats than trick. At least that’s what McGregor says.
