Phantom Way and Our Bedrock Clan

 It was a Yabadabado kind of Halloween for the Southworth clan. It starts with one person saying they are going to be Fred and Wilma and then moves into full Bedrock territory.

Getting Bill to get dressed included a bit of trickery and the promise of possible later evening "treats"......all well worth it.  I have never seen a more adorable Barney in my life!  He said it was like wearing two bathroom mats, that smelled almost as bad. 

Then, the youngest in our clan, Jackson, was some kind of warrior or Jedi.....(when your kids are grown up, you no longer have to know the characters). But he looked great and watching him enjoy the festivities was the best.  At age 5, he could care less about the candy and had the best time actually giving out the candy to the kids after he was done trick-or-treating himself.

 I should tell you a little about D. and K.'s neighborhood.  The road is called Phantom Way and its residences take this name and Halloween very, very seriously!

Halloween decorations start sometime in August, I think, and everyone sets up outdoors in front of the house.  There are fog machines and music.  There are spider webs all over everyone's homes.  Almost everyone is dressed up. 

It also happens to be one huge adult cocktail party which brings a whole new aspect to the evening.............beware of the neighbor offering a "brains" shot, it's nasty!

The street has gained somewhat of a reputation and we went through 15 pounds of candy! 1000s of kids visited Bedrock!  People from everywhere drive over to trick-or-treat here.  We did not see as many truckloads of families who don't speak a lick of English this year. (hmmmmm!)

 There were so many cute costumes to share, like Leiloni's group of mustard, ketchup and a hot dog (relish was nowhere to be found!). There were many all neon green outfits that I have no idea what they were supposed to be.  There were many kids dressed like the actors in the Harry Potter movies.  There were stars and celebrities and one real celebrity (Tom Chambers....ex-NBA superstar).  He seemed to be enjoying the night.  And, he was probably equally excited to meet Betty Rubble as I was meeting him!

Perhaps my favorite costume of the evening my our niece, Heather, who was dressed as a mime.  Cute, clever, creative, homemade.....just like Heather!

The only two sane people in the neighborhood?  It's Fred and Barney's Mom and Dad.  They came up for the festivities, eat some of Fred's unbelievable smoked chicken enchiladas, then go back home.

It just takes one person enthused with the holiday to start a crazy family tradition.  We have Wilma to thank for that.

It takes one City planner to name a street 'Phantom Way' and the start of a neighborhood tradition takes off in full fashion.  I wonder if this employee has any idea what he or she started.........Happy Halloween, everyone.  See you next year...............

I am participating in the November NaBloPoMo:

Empty Nest Party-Pooper or Betty Rubble? You Decide!

Back again!  I am here to share with you my Halloween dilemma and to ask for your advise.

For an empty nest parent living in a neighborhood that only has a few children of trick-or-treat age, Halloween has become somewhat of a non-event.  It's hard to get too excited when the door bell rings three times in the whole evening. A few years ago, we only had one lonely child..........

The door bell rang and I opened the door and looked down at this 4 foot child.  His parents were standing proudly on the street watching their son.  His head was drooped and he was sort of flapping his arms up and down.  He was covered in a head-to-toe old brown sheet.  He flapped his arms a little harder for about 30 seconds then he lifted his head and gave me this desperate look.  I said, "Well now, what are we?"  "I'm a moth"................. he flaps his arms quietly, without a smile on his adorable face.  I gave him the whole bowl of candy.

Image via Wikipedia Just two neighborhoods away,  Halloween is hugely celebrated, second only to Christmas.  People decorate their homes, starting sometime in August.  They make haunted homes in their garages.    They have spooky music playing outside.  The adults drink adult-like witches brew and the kids are filled with little kids, teenagers, a truckloads of illegal immigrants.  Seriously, truckloads!  And the Moms and Dads and kids dress up for candy.  Perhaps a few loaves of bread should be given out.  Each house needs more than 10 pounds of candy to handle the volume of trick-or-treaters.  But no one cares about that, they are all having a blast! This also happens to be the neighborhood where my husband's brother and his family live..................

Image via Wikipedia

They have invited us to partake in this very festive night. Their family is taking on "The Flintstones" theme for the house and the costumes.  Here's my problem:


My husband is sort of the Halloween Scrooge.  He doesn't want to go.  If we must go, he doesn't want to dress up and he wants to stay for just a few moments.  I could go either way.  Part of me wants to put together Barney and Betty costumes and dress Wrigley like Deno, the dinosaur.  (I've been told that Betty was the hot one!)   But, the other part of me agrees with Bill....it's a Monday night, we don't need to spend the time or money in getting costumes together, the traffic getting over there will be mad....the list of negatives is a mile long.

So, what should I do?  I have about 3 hours to figure this out.  Are we getting to be old party-poopers?  Or are we just mature people?  You be the deciders......................................HELP!

Dear Bethy Answers Your Most Pressing Halloween Questions

For Day 14 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, it is suggested that we write an advice column, which is so up my alley...........................

Dear Bethy:

The Halloween season is upon us and I would love your suggestion as to which type of candy I should over-indulge in this year? signed-frustrated..............................

Image via Wikipedia

 

Dear Frustrated: The answer is quite simple.  You should run to the store and stock up on Candy Corn. With only 150 for every 22 pieces, you will hard it hard to go over the daily recommended 2000 calorie count before you get sick on such sweet goodness! I find eating candy that resembles my physical shape very comforting.  I do however, warn you against getting creative and making decorations with candy corn; you may start acting all "sticky-witchy".....watch what happens towards the end of this video:


http://www.thatsfit.com/videos-partner/how-to-make-a-halloween-candy-corn-tree-517169684-62  (Hope you can see this; it would not embed properly for me)

Dear Bethy:

I am 52 years old and have been invited to an adult Halloween costume party and wondering if you think its a good idea to go as a sexy nurse or a purty cat?  My legs are still in pretty decent shape. signed- sexy Momma

Dear Sexy Momma:


I suggest you have your decent shaped legs walk you straight to the psychologists office!  Do you have any idea why so many people secretly wish to be a tramp for one night a year?  Either do I!  Besides, you could get hurt or worse yet, you could hurt someone wearing that sort of outfit.  I would prefer you dress as Mr. Green Jeans or a wicked witch or better yet, a ghost! 

Dear Bethy:

My kids are all grown up and not living at home any more.  Do I still have to use up all my monthly disposable income on candy for the neighborhood kids?  And do I have to waste the whole night hanging around the front door, ready to give the candy to the trick-or-treaters....while my husband sits comfortably in front of the TV in the den? signed-tortured

Dear Tortured:


Why..............YES and YES!!!!

Bethy wishes everyone a happy, safe Halloween!