As far back as I can remember, I really don’t have any good memories of Halloween. Every year, I’d ask my mom for a princess costume, and it always ended up being the neighbor’s clown costume—one that was a little too big for me. There’s nothing worse for a 7-year-old girl than wearing a clown costume and the makeup that goes with it, which would eventually run all over my face.
Yet on other occasions, my mom would really go all out when it came to organizing parties—but not for Halloween. For example, one year, I wore a rubber penis on my nose for Halloween. Yes, yes, you read that right! On that infamous Halloween evening, it was around 6 p.m., and I was with my brother and my mom. I hadn’t planned on going trick-or-treating because I was at that awkward age when you wonder if you’re too old to do it…
So there I was, sulking in my corner with a all puffy face because I’d been crying. Seeing me like that—and since I hadn’t planned on wearing a costume—my mom suggested we improvise one. So she pulled out my dad’s construction helmet, his checkered jacket, a pair of glasses with a mustache, and smudged some black on my face to make it look dirty.
But that’s not all—here’s the highlight of the show! (The highlight: the construction-themed costume…)
My brother brought out the famous rubber penis from the joke shop and said, “That looks like a nose—could we put that on him?” My mom burst out laughing: “Yes! Great idea!” After a good 10 minutes of lively discussion about whether or not I should wear it, I finally gave in.
So I spent Halloween with a rubber penis on my nose, accompanied by my older brother, who was cracking up behind me every time I knocked on a door. I even went to one house where someone straight-up asked me, “Do you have a penis on your nose? I have the same one at home! That prank was all the rage!”
What a night—troubling! It was a far cry from my dream of having a princess costume. I’m telling you this with all humility, because this—let’s face it—disturbing experience left me with a bitter taste when it comes to Halloween. Now I can laugh about it, but I’m still traumatized by it, because I don’t want my daughter to go through that. She’s currently at an age where the costume doesn’t matter much. But believe me, if one day she wants to be a princess, she’ll be a princess!
COVID or no COVID, I’ll decorate for Halloween, dress up, and dress up my daughter. We’ll make ourselves a nice little dinner and improvise a trick-or-treating session at home if we still can’t go out!