Say what you will …

… about Halloween, but this one was pretty cool.

Because for all the weird and macabre and over-the-top that comes with “Satan’s day”, I found myself feeling more connected, loved and part of something bigger than myself yesterday. 

For starters, I loved that I spent NADA this year.  How very Thrive of me.

The big kids picked out their costumes last year when then went 75% off at Target,  Kade and Creep wore costumes from last year and Ash went as her bad self—only clean.

And because some of the old costumes from last year needed to be altered to fit smaller boys … and because the cheap-o costumes from Target were already falling apart after a single wear to the pumpkin patch … I found myself sitting at my little Singer Featherweight yesterday morning  fixing seams and sewing tails back on Scooby Doo.

And as I sewed away at the coffee table with my crew crashed out in jammies late into the morning, the song Real Gone blared over the opening scenes of the movie CARS.  And I I felt so content—like this is exactly where I was supposed to be and this was exactly what I supposed to be doing.

And trick or treating was laid back and simple … just like it was last year … and at Walmart … which I’m making peace with because it kept the kids out of the cold and rain … and there were tons of other people there, too … and even though this makes two major holidays celebrated in the produce section, the kids still loved it.

See?

And they had a blast picking up Skittles from:

… MATT in electronics …

… and Kit Kat from JANE in the pharmacy …

… and suckers from DEBBIE  in Jewelry …

… and from fist-fulls of chocolate LISA and KIM in the deli.

 

And best of all, I got a little taste of Christmas shame pictures to come:

Awesome.

After dinner, we did end up taking the kids out trick-or-treating … to actual houses in the neighborhood … so that was big.   The kids held hands … and went from house to house … and squealed at their growing stashes … all while I followed along in the truck with my hazard lights on and the windows rolled down.

After getting the kids down after scriptures and prayer, Ben and I were both in the mood for a drink.  Which is actually pretty cool, because I’ve been very proud of myself for getting off the sauce.  For a while, my caffeine-free drinks were mandatory (and usually twice a day), but I’ve dialed way back and feel much better.  So going to get a drink can now be a treat instead of a crutch.

And I smile every time I walk into Maverick and grab drinks, carving initials on the top with my keys just like we did on pop runs growing up.  Except if this was an old-school pop run, I’d have Hidz and Lindz with me … and we’d be getting Swamp Water for Dad … and Diet Cokes for all the girls … and the soft rope licorice for everyone … and trying to juggle all of those cups while trying to shift gears in Mom’s old Trooper, Helen.

But last night it was a Z scratched on the lid for Ben’s Coke Zero and an N for Nike’s caffeine free Diet Pepsi.  And I knew Ben would enjoy his as he finished off the college football games of the week and I sat down to finish a tutorial to post on THRIVE.

On the way home, Halloween was still in full force in the neighborhood, as traffic slowed to a crawl.  Families pushing strollers, packs of ten-year-olds with glow sticks and the occasional teenager or two made their way down the packed streets.  And I found myself in good company with vans and SUVs and cars with their windows down and the hazards on … all trailing behind their kids to make sure they stayed safe and came home in one piece.

 

And I was surprised to see probably the greatest display of Community as neighbors decorated their porches and front windows and yards with Halloween displays … and threw open their garages …

… and front doors …

 

… late into the night to welcome friends, neighbors and total strangers to stop and say hi and visit for a minute.

And in the cold drizzle of 9:30 last night, our neighborhood felt … warm.

I pulled into the driveway just as my favorite song came on the radio.  So I turned off the truck and sat in total darkness with the music cranked up and the base on our stock stereo on full. 

And from the waste up, I was on fi - yah.

I rocked out … I jammed … I had my hands in the air … my feet were ripping it up on the floor mats … all while still seat belted.  And in my mind, I still got it.  I can move.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween.