THE LAST REAL HALLOWEEN

The only holiday equally special and exciting as Christmas was Halloween! It was a big, honking deal to me and all of my friends.

I began trick-or-treating at age 4. I remember it vividly to this day! On Halloween night a big jamboree was to be held on the school football field. I would go trick-or-treating afterward, escorted by my grandfather. I was overflowing with excitement. I couldn't wait to see the costume selected for me.

What a disappointment!!! It was a little Bride's outfit, not a REAL costume! -- A DEAD Bride, now that would have been a costume I'd have worn with pride. To my surprise, I saw 3 other pre-school girls at the Halloween jamboree wearing the same lame outfit. Fortunately, I had outgrown it by the following year.

After that, I was a perpetual Gypsy. It was the easiest costume to create at home. Around age 10, I acquired a wig with long black curls for under my bandanna. At age 11, I really tarted things up with more make-up and jewelry. Classmates didn't recognize me when we passed on the sidewalks.

"This is your final year as a trick-or-treater," my mother declared. "Halloween is a little kid's holiday." I had been wearing a bra for a year, she reminded. "Next fall you'll be in Junior High, you'll just embarrass yourself!"

I was saddened. It would end an activity I loved! I knew I'd miss it, big time.

My first year in Junior High was spent down in West Palm Beach . My mother and I rented an apartment there so I could attend the "special" school. On weekends we came home to Stuart.

Around the corner, lived 2 girls my age. They attended regular Junior High. Come Halloween, they invited me to go trick-or-treating with them. My mother relented, since I would not be there the following year. Woohoo!!! I was getting an extra year!

My trick-or-treating began in a store-bought costume, it would end in one. This was to be a costume of my choosing. I was determined to go out with flair and flourish!

The movie CLEOPATRA started filming when I was in the 5th grade. I was now in the 7th and it was finally being released. Publicity for this film, plus the scandalous antics of Liz & Dick dominated the airwaves and print media, still.

Instantly, I was drawn to the Cleopatra costume. The deep royal purple with gold braiding and sequins was both showy and beautiful. Plus the material had a sheen. It fit tight, clingy in all the right places. -- I looked as if I'd hit puberty 2 years before I actually did. Quite a sophisticated costume for a 12 year old. Also it came with a with a golden falcon head-dress along with a mask that appeared to be molded from Liz Taylor's own face.

One of my friends was outfitted as a Ghost. The other was a Parisian Streetwalker. She called it a French Lady outfit! However it consisted of a tight split skirt, fish net stockings, beret, and long cancer stick holder with a candy cigarette at the end. Trust me, it was a streetwalker outfit! -- But she looked really good!

Despite the hooker costume, it was my gaudy outfit that got all the attention. As soon as doors opened, exclamations of, "Look! It's Liz Taylor!" were heard repeatedly!

Frenchy and I laughed and joked about it. But the Ghost was jealous. It was obvious that she was sorry I had been invited along.

To my delight, I encountered no one else wearing a similar outfit. My last REAL Halloween I wore the best costume of all!

Nowadays, Halloween is a lot less fun on this side of the candy. I still dress up in a costume just to get into the spirit of things. One year I attired myself as Marilyn Monroe, another a pirate, last Halloween I went Victorian. But to be honest, it feels like more of a bother. Guess I've just turned into a sour apple Scrooge. Or perhaps I miss the excitement of going door-to-door.

Halloween may have been a little kids holiday once, but not anymore. Half of those who come to my door tower over me! Many look like High Schoolers. Some of the costumes cover so much, for all I know, there could be someone 40 years old or older under there! -- Hmmm, that gives me an idea!