Adult regression, Halloween, and other random musings

All of us need more time for fun distractions. Don’t you agree? There is not enough of it, and it is our own fault. “E  ” and I have been trying to do something about that imbalance. All our progeny have left the roost, and we’re still young, so better now than later because the AARP material is not going to stop piling up in the mail box.

We actually got things rolling in 2008. We spent more time going to concerts, getting into Latin dancing, reinvigorating our physical fitness, as well as joining a ski house in Vermont and socializing with active people there; skiing every other weekend. Bike riding was the big thing this summer, as posted earlier, and they have been mellow rides for the most part. Nothing extravagant like 50 mile rides, or daredevil runs down a mountainside. I admit that I am not prepared to take on the same risk that I did in my youth, when my bike riding was much more aggressive. It is a matter of the odds. My recuperative powers are not the same as when I was, say, 13 years old, or even a decade ago. I once fell off of a bike while standing on the seat as I rolled down a street with a steep pitch (and for the record I was 13, not 43, in case there was any confusion). I guess I was coming up on 20 or 25 mph when I lost control, and went over the high side. Thumped, rag-dolled, skidded, and thumped again for several yards. But staggered right back up. Can’t do that these days. No way, no how. If I tried to do something wild like that now, and screwed the pooch, E would read me the riot act….. while I lay on the gurney, sanguinating.

So our forms of fun nowadays must have a degree of “safeness”. Skiing is risky enough. Maybe fun can be more about doing things with the imagination instead of the body (but we DO love the imaginative things that can be done with the body). Anyway, we now have Halloween coming in and I have been fixated on having fun with this day. I think Halloween is an ideal excuse for all adults to reach back and get reacquainted with their inner child’s playfulness. Actually, I got into it last year, now that I recall. That was the year of the Ninja. Most of the ensemble was cobbled from the garments of a monochrome skiing outfit. Black. When coming down the mountain I look like one of the bad guys from Spectre in the Spy Who Loved Me ski sequence. (That’s a James Bond flick for those of you who have been living in a cave in Idaho).

This year’s decision on what to do, what to wear, or where to go for Halloween has been problematic as nothing has fired the imagination, and it doesn’t look like there is any special costume event that would appeal to us. Last spring we got into a more adult, and exclusive, costume event. Parties like that sometimes offer more possibilities for imaginative fun than expected…and the threat of the unexpected can be deliciously intoxicating. However, that little soiree won’t come around again until April 2010.

So this fall we’re probably going to be pinned down at the homestead to hand out candy to the kiddies, or protection money to the local juvenile delinquents.

But wouldn’t it be great to go to a full-on bash with people who really get into the themes of Halloween, and everyone played their avatar fully to the hilt. Recognition of the actors under the finery of well thought out and executed costumes would make it an interesting process of discovery and conversation. I have read about the traditional Venetian Festivals in Europe where people go all out. Here’s one photo of a well turned out couple:

How about this party goer?

Given that we are not going to invest in such an elaborate display, our choices of costume finery are going to be relatively mundane. I thought of being a comic book superhero, but that means spandex which can look really cheesy. Then I thought about a gladiator look, and convincing E  to style as Red Sonja, with those incredible red thigh-high boots she’s got stashed away. No soap. Nevertheless I bugged E  until she gave in and bought us some outfits off the internet. Not my true choice of persona. But what the heck, we’ll keep it PG-13 and have fun with the whole shtick when the kids (or thugs) come to the door. This year: King Bubba Ho-Tep and the regal consort, Nefer-tah-tahs!

(Sigh) Anybody up for a Halloween party in New York city? Check out what’s planned at some of the cool NYC venues at http://newyork.joonbug.com/.  Our venue of choice would be Gustavino’s.

We’ll sign off here with something for those who get into the goofy-scary Halloween thing, a-la KC And The Sunshine Band meets Rob Zombie. Have a spooktacular Halloween!

E