Boy, do I have a lot to learn. Evidently, no matter the weather, even blizzards are no match for New Yorkers in search of candy.
Two events held last Halloween weekend proved to me that NYC kids and their parents are more than ready to attack the cold and wet of an early "Nor'easter". (Hurricanes, not so much.) But the early October snow storm was so much of any oddity that all had to go out and see for themselves. Why they didn't turn right around and go back in for a nice cup of coco is beyond me. Or why I didn't do likewise is still a mystery.
It was a clear, breezy afternoon. Friday's "Fall Festival" put on by ECC saw all the small smurfs, evil doers, heroes, spidies, princesses and other taller versions crowded into the cramped office building. Arts and crafts, games, theater and candy treating took place. It was a vertical delight taking place on several floors.
RDF3 came as a Texan, western boots and hat made him 7' tall. I was a gypsy dressed in blue, quite stunning. The blue finger nail polish continues to get compliments as I've not removed it! Raymon registered the families and directed traffic while I pretended to do arts and crafts. (It was too hard for me, so I let the kids do it!)
ECC volunterred to assist doing the whole thing over again at the elementary school the next evening. Their celebration was called "The Monster's Ball." And the October surprise blizzard was in full swing.
The snow was supposed to have stopped early that afternoon. Evidently it wanted to come to the party as well so it hung around until 8 PM. Trees split in half, electrical wires were dancing in the street in other areas, branches were bent to the ground and mush was everywhere. But the children kept coming.
The entertainers were late as the Subway backed up. The children kept coming.
The entrance area set-up for wet things was waist high. The children kept coming.
And it finally stopping snowing. And the children finally stopped coming.
We didn't want to be around when the families leaving hit the pile of wet coats, boots and umbrellas! A quiet exit was call for and cowards that we are, we took it!
My favorite costume? The Korean Princess in authentic garb. Although the Texan in the western hat and boots came close.
The families of Inwood will go through a lot to have safe quality time with and for their children. Physical comfort for them or their children is not primary as the kids don't seem to care. It was with couriousity that I watched the parent wriggle these kids out of wet coats and boots and put on dry wings or capes finishing off costumes both seemed extreemly proud of.
I was at the wet clothes dump area. Through observation I learned what many of you parents have known for many Halloweens. The costume didn't matter--the fact that the parent and child did it together did.
For a milisecond, the child looked at the parent for permission, not to go play but to show the world what they had built together--then go play!
Now I know that Halloween has a deep meaning to parents as well as exciting anticipation for the child. There is that millisecond bonding that they are both aware of that joins them together against the world. How many bonding seconds are there between parents and offspring?
I'm going to start looking.
Two events held last Halloween weekend proved to me that NYC kids and their parents are more than ready to attack the cold and wet of an early "Nor'easter". (Hurricanes, not so much.) But the early October snow storm was so much of any oddity that all had to go out and see for themselves. Why they didn't turn right around and go back in for a nice cup of coco is beyond me. Or why I didn't do likewise is still a mystery.
It was a clear, breezy afternoon. Friday's "Fall Festival" put on by ECC saw all the small smurfs, evil doers, heroes, spidies, princesses and other taller versions crowded into the cramped office building. Arts and crafts, games, theater and candy treating took place. It was a vertical delight taking place on several floors.
RDF3 came as a Texan, western boots and hat made him 7' tall. I was a gypsy dressed in blue, quite stunning. The blue finger nail polish continues to get compliments as I've not removed it! Raymon registered the families and directed traffic while I pretended to do arts and crafts. (It was too hard for me, so I let the kids do it!)
ECC volunterred to assist doing the whole thing over again at the elementary school the next evening. Their celebration was called "The Monster's Ball." And the October surprise blizzard was in full swing.
The snow was supposed to have stopped early that afternoon. Evidently it wanted to come to the party as well so it hung around until 8 PM. Trees split in half, electrical wires were dancing in the street in other areas, branches were bent to the ground and mush was everywhere. But the children kept coming.
The entertainers were late as the Subway backed up. The children kept coming.
The entrance area set-up for wet things was waist high. The children kept coming.
And it finally stopping snowing. And the children finally stopped coming.
We didn't want to be around when the families leaving hit the pile of wet coats, boots and umbrellas! A quiet exit was call for and cowards that we are, we took it!
My favorite costume? The Korean Princess in authentic garb. Although the Texan in the western hat and boots came close.
The families of Inwood will go through a lot to have safe quality time with and for their children. Physical comfort for them or their children is not primary as the kids don't seem to care. It was with couriousity that I watched the parent wriggle these kids out of wet coats and boots and put on dry wings or capes finishing off costumes both seemed extreemly proud of.
I was at the wet clothes dump area. Through observation I learned what many of you parents have known for many Halloweens. The costume didn't matter--the fact that the parent and child did it together did.
For a milisecond, the child looked at the parent for permission, not to go play but to show the world what they had built together--then go play!
Now I know that Halloween has a deep meaning to parents as well as exciting anticipation for the child. There is that millisecond bonding that they are both aware of that joins them together against the world. How many bonding seconds are there between parents and offspring?
I'm going to start looking.
No comments:
Post a Comment