©October 2001
Carol Jane Remsburg
This
year Halloween won't simply be All Saints Eve, it will also be a full moon, a
BLUE moon. For those that don't know, a
blue moon is the second full moon within the same month and that isn't a common
occurrence. Thus, this year ought to be
fraught with especially spooky stuff.
It
isn't just because the calendar states the obvious; it'll also be because I'll
make it so. There's nothing like having
a kid at the right age who is susceptible to a good scary yarn. Today we began our preparations for
Wednesday evening. I waited until today
to carve the pumpkins because I had worried if I did that too soon they wouldn't
be worth anything when the real day came.
Bought
the pumpkins just over two weeks ago.
There was a purchase of three, a Momma pumpkin, a baby pumpkin, and a
BIG daddy pumpkin. Elaborate plans were
made for all three along with the many smaller gourds we had purchased and
arrayed around our prizes on the front step.
At
8 AM, even after last night's changeover from Daily Light Savings Time back to
Standard Time, the KID was ready to begin.
Of course I wasn't and was able to put her off only until 10 AM. It was a good thing I didn't wait any longer
since I had no idea of the effort this would take. It's only carving a pumpkin after all.
Out
of the two books of pumpkin carving designs I'd bought, Erin selected half of
them. Then I managed to get her to
settle on one. I didn't realize until
after we began that this one was dubbed "challenging." Oh heaven help us.
I
brought in the "Momma" pumpkin which was about 20 pounds and
proceeded to make the top and clear out its innards. That wasn't a huge problem but the thing was heavy. Then, after reading further in the instructions,
the insides had to be pared down or shaved to a one-inch thickness. This was more work and with a frenzy of a
small sharp spoon. Finally it was cored
to the proper thickness. The pattern
was taped on and a connect-a-dot sort of thing followed. You punch your holes evenly along the
lines. This kept the child busy for
almost an hour. Then it was my turn
again with a little saw included with the kit.
The design was one of spooky eyes and gnarled hands with a legend of "TURN
BACK NOW."
My hand was about to fall off by the time I finished this and I had worried the entire time that the entire front of the pumpkin was going to cave in. Luckily that didn't happen. Then I begged for an hour's respite just to rest my aching hands and back.
Then
it was time for "Big Daddy" pumpkin.
This time I made sure the pattern was less demanding, a moderate
one. This one was of a grave marker
with a full moon and another set of scary hands.
However,
this time it was tougher. It wasn't just
that the larger pumpkin was heavier, although that nearly put my back out as I
was trying to cull the insides of the thing.
This pumpkin was nearly "gourd" status, which means it had
gotten tough, nearly brittle, with little flexibility and a three-inch
thickness. I should have known to begin
worrying, but after the success of the first one, I simply forged ahead.
Again
we did the drilling with the little plastic doo-hickey. Once she tired I finished it. Then came time for the saw. I won't say that I was over enthusiastic or
even hard on the pumpkin. My hands and
arms were already tired, but by the third cutout the entire front gave
way. Luckily my daughter had become
bored with it all and had left the room.
What was I going to do?
Toothpicks
saved the day. Now this pumpkin won't
last long, but it ought to get me through the next few days before it magically
disappears. When it goes bad in the
dramatic way it will, I'll likely tell Erin that a greedy ghoul from the
beyond decided they simply had to have it.
This
year, again, I will be dressing up to frighten those that arrive at my sister's
house and I'll be bringing the scary music, all the candy, and we'll play more
than a prank or two. Hours will be
spent getting ready and helping others get prepared in outlandish costumes and
strange makeup.
The
tales we will conjure up about this special Halloween with the blue
moon ought to be enough to frighten our nearly "grown-up"
nieces. The candles will flicker and
our eyes will bulge. Our laughter will
cackle in gleeful wickedness.
And
for a very short time, all in the house will believe our tales of demon
possession, witches, goblins, and every ghost story we can invoke. All the while the little ones knocking at
the door will get the best commercial candy around—Snickers®, M&Ms®,
Nestle®, Hersheys®, Reeses®, and all the rest.
Meanwhile,
I wish to you all a ghoulishly good time come Halloween. Be sure to remind all those you know just
how weird this night of darkness should be.
On a full moon, anything can happen—simply anything! Remember, it's not just for the kids
anymore! Heehheheheheheeheeee!