Manda was ten months old on her first Halloween, and wore the only costume I ever bought for her. She was a little brontosaurus that year. It was pouring rain that night, and we went to maybe a dozen homes. Granny cuddled the little dino while her parents devoured the candy.
In subsequent years, she was a bat, a lion, an iMac, the Tooth Fairy, a penguin, a clownfish, and a squirrel with an enormous fluffy tail. (among many other odd things. Manda never wanted to wear a costume that you could buy in a store) Most years, I made several copies of the same costume for other children who asked for funky costumes. Getting that damn clownfish costume mailed across country was an adventure. The people at the mailing store were stunned at a four foot long foam fluorescent orange clownfish costume.
Most years, Manda won "best costume" prizes at the school Halloween party, as did the other kids who wore the costumes. The squirrel one was especially memorable, because the other little girl is some kind of squirrel expert and was worried that I had created the wrong nose for a squirrel. And the tails! I made them out of polyester quilt batting and they were so huge that they curled over the kids' heads.
I also had the privilege of making costumes for the drama club kids at the middle school. Some kids had parents who weren't able to make or buy costumes, so I always made a half dozen or more for each performance. Two years ago, I was able to talk a costume shop into selling me 25 Elizabethan gowns at $10 each. The girls will be wearing them for years. I begged a boatload of old tuxedos from a shop that was going to throw them away, so the boys usually look pretty sharp, too.
One of Manda's friends (one of the Matts) wanted to be Liberache one year, so I begged another old tuxedo jacket (pearl gray with satin lapels!) from the dry cleaners and glued hundreds of silver holographic stars all over it. Matt was delighted, and still wears the jacket for laughs.
Last year, Manda went trick or treating with a friend, instead of with Bob. They brought Melanie's enormous dog for protection, although there's nothing to fear in our neighborhood. (Poor Lola had to wear a bunch of glow necklaces to be a "stripey space dog") I made both Manda's and Mel's costumes, but I had a feeling that this was going to be the last time.
I was right. Manda just announced that she is "way too old" for trick or treating, and doesn't want a costume this year. She's decided to stay and home and give out candy. It's good for me, because I can't do the stairs, and good for Grandpa, because he's too deaf to hear the doorbell, but it still stinks.
I've gotta gather up some kids so I can make costumes next year. I can't imagine Halloween without making some cool costumes. I think I'll check in at the middle school and see who needs a costume for the big show. :-)
Kathy N-V