Halloween and tomorrow’s the day

We had a pleasantly lazy weekend, which involved trick-or-treating in the rain (a first!), Mexican dinner and then dropping Theo off at home so the H, Bobby and I could go see The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We’re moving into “Halloween with teens” territory. Bobby says he’ll never want to stop trick-or-treating; interestingly, Theo at twelve is less into it. While Bobby sought out and bought his Cat in the Hat costume weeks ago, Theo had no ideas at all until I suggested he wear my Beaker Muppets costume from my event; I think he likes the acquisition of candy part but not the creative part. I almost wore my Star Trek costume from my event, but decided against it when I was thinking about the elaborate makeup and hairdo I’d have to throw together only to limp along in painful boots in the rain. Forget it. So it was a non-costume year for me.

The next day we were due to have family photos taken, which already was a fraught process - our usual photographer never answered my inquiry about this fall (usually I get an invite to sign up in August); so I asked in a FB group for recommendations. One person was only doing family shoots on the one weekend I’m out of town; the other and I went back and forth about a million times to pick a date and find a location; she wouldn’t answer my emails for days until I finally nudged her; it was just very anxiety producing. Finally the day comes and she checks in in the morning, and we have our usual messy getting ready time with the H having his annual OCD freak out about what to wear, I can’t curl my hair to save my life (I stupidly thought if I just left the blowout my hair stylist did on Wednesday I’d be fine - instead I just had flat, greasy hair), and I realize both boys are so overdue for haircuts that there’s literally nothing I can do to get their hair out of their eyes or even look halfway decent. As it turned out, just as we were about to walk out the door I checked my phone and she had texted an hour earlier to cancel because she was sick. Uh boy. I was pissed. But also relieved, because we all looked like crap (well, me and the boys, at least). A bit more back and forth and we rescheduled for veteran’s day when the boys are off school. I figure it’s 50/50 that this will actually happen. I may have to accept the fact that for the first year ever we won’t have family photos taken at all or won’t have them in time for Christmas cards. Super bummer, but part of me is just over it. Is this another expensive, high-emotional labor thing that I can just stop doing like all the other things (sleepaway camp, elaborate birthday parties, Thanksgiving)? It may very well be. 

At least we got to go to the Marionette theater for the annual spooky puppet show (about 70% hipster adults and 30% kids) that the kids were somehow still interested in. Is this a sign of sentimentality from them? Is this a fond childhood memory that will make them want to bring their own kids to? Perhaps. For me I’m really glad they still want to enjoy simple childhood things like this. I’m glad they’re not in a hurry to grow up. 

Tomorrow is the midterms. I plan to be in front of my tv all day and will report back. I expect good things, but who the fuck knows.