 | 27 Oct 08 |
Growing up, I begged my mom to let me be Samantha from Bewitched. I was the youngest of four kids, and a “surprise” at that. My parents were wonderful and loving, but frankly, they were tired of the whole kid thing, and totally past stuff like finding just the right Halloween costume. But one year, I nagged my mom until she bought me a boxed Bewitched costume. Do you all remember those pressed plastic masks with the piece of elastic across the back? And then the plastic jumpsuit thing that was supposed to look like your favorite superhero?
Or in my case, my favorite super heroine?
That was NOT the costume I wanted (although I never told my mom that). I wanted that long black dress Samantha wore when she was up in the clouds with her mother and other assorted witches.
But hey, I got a lot of candy and in those days, candy made up for everything!
Many years later, I met a really cool guy, except that he only wore ONE Halloween costume—doctor scrubs. And this was BEFORE doctor scrubs became hip. I believe we still have those scrubs, because you never know when a costume emergency might arise. 
So the new boyfriend and I get invited to a Halloween party. And I think—awesome! I am not going in some stupid store bought costume, or a throw-together thing. For the first time in my life, I went to a real costume shop. I actually got a pretty cool costume, although to this day I’m not sure what I was supposed to be. Sort of a cross between Jeanie and the Chiquita Banana girl, I suppose. It was fine…
But that’s not my favorite.
The next year was another party. This one was one week before our wedding. We had a lot to do, and I decided, hey, I’ll just go as a witch.
For some reason, being a witch seems to come easy to me, LOL!
I bought a wig of long black hair, bought some black material and whipped up a dress with flowing sleeves and high slits in the long skirt. Although I’m not sure those slits weren’t planned—I can’t actually sew well and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t using a pattern. I just…winged it. (Hmm, that’s kind of how I write my books too!)
That costume was a HIT. Everyone thought I was Elvira AND/OR a witch. I believe there was some serious debate about that question…all in fun. We partied the night away, drinking, dancing, laughing…it was a blast. The next week, my husband and I got married, and then for many years, my husband kept a blown up picture of me from that night in the garage over his work bench. All the neighbors wondered if he was crazy hanging a picture of another woman there.
They were always surprised to find out it was me. Then once they knew it was me, they were surprised they hadn’t seen it.
What’s interesting is that the costume wasn’t perfect, it had many flaws. I was certainly not a hot babe, I never was. I’m average looking. But that night, I was someone else, and everyone around me bought into my “character.” It really wasn’t the costume, but the FANTASY that made the night so much fun.
And that is what is so compelling about writing stories—I get to keep living the fantasy. Of course, now I’m writing about witches, almost coming full circle from those days of watching BEWITCHED and wanting so much to believe. As a writer, I know it’s called suspending disbelief, but then, when I was six years old, I simply chose to believe in magic.
So now it’s your turn to share—what was (or is) your favorite Halloween costume? And tell me, do you think candy still makes up for life’s disappointments?
© 2008 – 2009 Jennifer Lyon. All rights reserved.
Award winning author, Jennifer Lyon, always wanted to be a witch. Since her witch-powers never materialized, she went onto Plan B and now she creates magic in her books. In her new series, the author of the acclaimed Samantha Shaw Mystery Series (written as Jennifer Apodaca) introduces the Witch Hunters, legendary men who must overcome a curse to team up with witches and fight evil.
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I remember one or two Halloween parties as an adult. Almost no recollection of costurmes as a kid except for a clown and a gypsy.
My favorite costume wasn’t mine; it was my husband’s. We were in Miami, and the artist Christo was doing his ‘Surrounded Islands” in Biscayne bay. Hubby was their special ‘manatee consultant’ to make sure no harm would come to any manatees who wandered by. For Halloween, we took some of the pink fabric (which was really more like loosely woven plastic burlap) and made him a poncho, and then we made a headdress by sticking all sorts of greenery and the like on a styrofoam wreath. He was unique, to say the least.
by Terry Odell October 27th, 2008 at 8:01 amActually, my fave costumes are the ones we’ve made for the kiddo. Two years ago she was a mummy. I tea dyed strips of muslin that we spray glued onto long johns. Hubby made her a snake head piece out of copper, a crook, and an ankh. Of course we wrapped her head and blacked her eyes. The kid could barely walk, but she was the hit of the neighborhood!. Last year, he made her into a robot with knobs, helmet, dry vent material over her arms and legs, and blinking lights in her chestplate that said, ‘FEED ME’. Again, walking was difficult and did a facer on the neighbor’s stoop. This year she wanted to be a cat. Simple, right? Now she changed her mind. But too late. Next year, I think she wants to be a headless girl who is holding her bloody head in her hands.
by Margaret A. Golla October 27th, 2008 at 8:03 amI think she’s realized the cool costumes get the most comments and compliments!
My favorite h’ween costume was the one I made on Saturday for my 15 year old son going to a teen costume party. I sewed Barbies all over his T-shirt and jeans and he went as a Chick Magnet. It was very funny!
by Roxanne St. Claire October 27th, 2008 at 8:40 amTerry, your husband’s costume sounds very creative! Much more than my husband…although I did finally get him out of the doctor’s scrubs. One year he was a knight…that was fun and he looked hot.
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 9:06 amMargaret, your daughter is adventurous with her costumes! I love them! My oldest son still hasn’t forgiven me for dressing him up as purples grapes when he was two. He looked adorable. I can’t imagine why it bugs him…LOL
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 9:08 amRocki, I love it! That is awesome, he should win best costume! I wish I’d thought of that!
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 9:10 amJen, I think the best costume at that party was the pimp and his hooker duo, where Joe played the hooker (even shaved his arms) and his wife was the pimp. But the surrounded island was cool, too.
The gifted center at our kids’ elementary school put on a Halloween parade and had a contest every year–that was their big thing, and all the kids had to create their own costumes. I recall one year my daughter and her best friend went as Ketchup and Mustard squeeze bottles.
by Terry Odell October 27th, 2008 at 9:11 amI think you and I talked about this before– My favorite costume ever was the year (about 14) that I went out as Serena (in hindsight I could have been Cher.) The long black wig, fishnet stockings, and boots were my favorite part of the costume.
When I was a hairdresser we had a guy who came in all the time for make up and nails because he’d put on a leather miniskirt and win all of the costume contest. He made a pretty convincing woman.
by Cele October 27th, 2008 at 9:18 amMy son still has not forgiven me for wrapping him in aluminum foil when he was four and declaring him the Tin Man. He wouldn’t pick an idea and had declared he didn’t want to go… until about five minutes before time, when he changed his mind and still rejected the ghost/sheet idea. I wrapped a funnel in the foil, stuck it on his head and thought it looked fine. Until he took a step.
Aluminum foil tears easy. Unless you wrap a LOT of LAYERS around something. Poor little guy couldn’t walk, so Carl had to carry him. Carl would set him down, let him hobble up to the door to say “Trick or Treat” then watch him hobble back, whereupon I would in spect him for tears and wrap another layer. He’s almost 26 now and he still looks at aluminum foil and shudders.
(He did, however, pick out all of his costumes in advance after that.)
by toni mcgee causey October 27th, 2008 at 9:36 amJen, It’s nice to know where Sam got her name. I still miss her.
Favorite costumes would have to be for me a witch, my oldest son – a jedi, youngest son – for the past 4 years he’s been Luigi from the Mario & Luigi games, the girls – would be witches, princesses, and a cowgirl w/ a horse.
by HollyD October 27th, 2008 at 9:41 amEvery year I dress up as a witch, LOL, even at my age, and answer the door…I have several very cool hats I’ve decorated and wear. Every year the witches out fit changes, since I’ve grown considerably older and gained weight. So the sexy witch has disappeared into the granny witch…Its all so much fun. I do the make-up and everything…I’ll never grow out of it. When I’m really old they’ll have to still dress me up and wheel me to the door.
by Lee October 27th, 2008 at 10:03 amI had two, one when was a teenager I dressed up as a gypsy. I placed second after a guy who dressed up as a Tampon! Then there was one year I dressed up like a cat. Sigh. I was much more feline in form in those days…
by Karin Tabke October 27th, 2008 at 10:14 amTerry, mustard and ketchup! What a great idea! I love the hooker and pimp with reverse roles too.
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 11:53 amCele, I think we did talk about this before. I bet you looked great as Serena! Did people think you were Cher.
Too funny about the man–and I’m so jealous that he could wear a leather mini skirt! I don’t want to know where he tucked everything though
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 11:55 amToni, the aluminum foil is hilarious, and you get mega-points for last minute creativity! And you got him to pick his costumres ahead of time after that, so you also get bonus points!
I hope you have pictures! I show my son the grape picture on a regular basis.
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 11:57 amHollyD, thank you for saying that about Sam! And yeah, that’s where she got her name, that’s also where one of my dog’s got her name. I am consistant!
Great constumes from your family–your son sounds like mine with the Jedi, Mario and Luigi taste in costumes. And of course, cowboy is always an excellent choice.
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 11:59 amLee…LOL! The witch ages with us, doesn’t she???? I’ll be right there with you in the wheelchair!
I’ll never forget the year I dressed as a witch for work at a clothing store. A little kid was so scared he wouldn’t come in the store. Sadly, I had extra make up on my face…just a costume. But my face can, evidently, scare little kids.
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 12:01 pmKarin, I bet you looked hot in both costumres!
Tampon…ewww.
A couple years ago, my oldest son won best costume at a fraternity party, but refused to tell me what he was. So I told my husband about it and, he laughed and said our son had told him wha the dressed as. A condom.
Makes a mom so proud…LOL!
by Jen Apodaca October 27th, 2008 at 12:04 pmMy favorite Halloween contest was when I was in Kindergarten. My mom went to Japantown and got fabric and made me a Geisha girl. I had the funny socks with just a place for your big toe and the shoes and she fixed my hair. I was a little blonde geisha running around.
by Amanda October 27th, 2008 at 12:10 pmAmanda, that’s so cool! Geisha is an exotic costume!
by Jennifer Lyon October 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pmOne year I went as an angel, so the next year I figured I better go as a devil. To balance things out, ya know.
by Natalie October 27th, 2008 at 8:53 pmGreat story, Jen! And you ARE a hot babe. Especially in red . . .
I’m not a big Halloween girl. I don’t dress up. I’m boring. I give away good candy, though. I never buy anything I don’t personally like, and since I don’t like a lot of candy, it’s usually the 3 muskateers and those miniature hersheys and m&ms. But the kids all love halloween (duh.) This year Brennan #1 is going as Supergirl (if I can get her a costume–I got a call that it’s out of stock even though I ordered it and they guaranteed shipment . . . ); Brennan #2 is going as . . . hmm, not sure. I think a bad angel. #3 is Indiana Jones (and he is SO CUTE but I’m not allowed to say that, or handsome. He only accepts “cool.”); #4 is going as Ariel; and #5 is going as the BLUE power ranger. Somehow, I think #3 and #4 talked him into that . . . .
by Allison Brennan October 28th, 2008 at 2:34 amNatalie, you are such a balanced person!
by Jen Apodaca October 28th, 2008 at 9:26 amAllison, that dress has taken on mythical proportions that aren’t even close to reality, LOL! Your kid-stories crack me up. I remember when I wasn’t allowed to call my boys cute either.
by Jen Apodaca October 28th, 2008 at 9:27 amOh, I want to SEE that picture!! =)
by Maureen Child October 28th, 2008 at 6:12 pmMarueen, umm, I don’t think so
by Jen Apodaca October 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pmWell Shoot, I spelled Maureen wrong! So sorry, Maureen!
by Jen Apodaca October 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pm