COSTUMING

One of the best Halloween costumes that I ever answered the door to was a neighbor wearing a gas mask. We used to have an army surplus store in town before that location became a drive-in. That's where his mask came from.

But there he stood with the alien type head, hose dangling from the mouth hole. He didn't say a word. I didn't recognize him. But I was scared. I was only 33 or 34. Just kidding. I was probably 11, but in those days 11 was still young and brim full of naivete.

I handed him his candy or first I may have called for one of my parents to look at the cool costume. But I think I did it solo. My mom would have been too frightened and my dad too pre-occupied or apathetic. He didn't dislike Halloween; he just didn't see the point of it.

For me, I loved it. I loved a good scare. I loved to think what could be out there that would chill me with fear.

I wasn't too creative in my costuming. Mostly, I would wear old clothes and take a stick with a handkerchief on the end and go dressed as a hobo. I didn't know any hobos, but I identified with them. If not that, I would drag out a big paper mache head we made in art class. My nieces and I took turns wearing that big thing for half a dozen Halloweens.

The last costume I wore was Raggedy Andy along with Raggedy Ann, of course. My wife, as usual, looked a lot better than I. She really could have been Ann. As for me, I just looked goofy.

This year I think I'll go dressed as an old guy. With tee shirt and shorts and some real flip flops that my toes finally got used to. It's not much of a costume, but I won't need a mask. At least sometimes when I look in the mirror these days, I scare myself.