A Halloween Tribute...

It is on days like today, Halloween, that start pushing the feelings of age on young people like myself. I am not old by any means; I am quite young in fact. At the youthful age of 21, Halloween is seen as a time of get-togethers, or rather 'shindigs', instead of the trick-o-treating that once filled our heads of sweet and sugary thoughts.

Ten years ago, maybe a few more, maybe a few less, the early evening of October 31st was overwhelmed with making pumpkins glow, and quickly rushing through dinner, knowing there was a ghoulish, or in my case sporty (Halloween, a night to act as we are not really), costume, awaiting me up in my room. Our little minds never thought much about ten years down the life road. Sugar commandeered our minds on Halloween nights, not the thoughts of 'what I’ll be spending my October 31st evening doing when I am too old to trick-o-treat.' Did I realize that on my 21st Halloween I would be sitting in my cubicle at work hunched over a computer passing the time by writing code for computers, while nibbling on leftover spaghetti thrown into a backpack while heading out the door to work downtown after class? Probably not.

How many years ago was the last trick-o-treat? For me it was in more recent past than others I am sure, my senior year of high school. Most neighbors would cringe at the sight of an aged trick-o-treater asking (politely mind you) for candy at their door, even though it is Halloween. However, when the 18-year-old male shows up at their door with a giant pink bunny costume, a few chuckles and a smile usually bring a few pieces of candy past the threshold.

The later years of trick-o-treating were delightful, but nothing compared to the years of parental accompaniment. I remember walking the sidewalks with brothers beside and parents behind, thinking through all the reminders that adults harp on children when the end of October nears. The porch lights of that house are off, move to the next house. If someone I don't know offers candy and they aren't in their house, don't take it. Never eat any candy before getting home so we can check the wrappers. Watch our for cars, unless they're parked police cars, then get there as fast as you can, cause you just know they have the good stuff. The years when the parents followed behind, the years of being a giant baseball, an elephant, a hockey player, a member of the coast guard, were the years that Halloween was the most enjoyable. The irony of it all is that in those years you want nothing but your parents to let you go out by yourself, funny how we think in hindsight.

Even though I am at the office on this Halloween evening, the chill in the air, the smell of colored leaves, and the early thoughts of a giant Thanksgiving dinner with Christmas right around the corner, surface the feelings that are what this time of year is entirely about. Knowing that someday, with my own children, I will relive my years of being a giant baseball that needs to use the bathroom so bad that we have to ask some friendly neighbor to come inside, is enough to bring forth a familiar youthful smile. When my turn comes around, I will follow behind my children as they glance back in hope to see they are independent, but in reality just making sure they aren’t alone. Right now, the memories of my own single-digit years of trick-o-treating are enough fulfillments. I can still tell you which house gave the biggest, best, and most candy. I can still tell you which house had the scary teenager hiding in the bushes waiting to jump out at you. I can still tell you the best route to maximize your candy revenue. But I think I’ll just save those little tidbits of knowledge for my own kids. Happy Halloween!

One of Those Days...

The engine was cut and the doors opened letting the brisk autumn air creep into the car. It was an early Friday morning and the great out doors had just welcomed us with a kiss of its cool lips. Leaves were already drifting aimlessly to the matted grass even though October was still a few weeks away. Around us, great trees seemed to guard us from all reality while giving a sense of comfort and serenity, letting us know, that we could unload and settle in. Very few sites around were occupied being so early on a Friday morning, most of our neighbors most likely remaining at work or school until mid-afternoon, then finding path to their weekend get-a-way with nature.
Crunching through dying grass and fallen leaves feeling out the site, we look for the flat ground to lay our tent. The site itself was meant for a camper of mediocre size, however, with a overheating Jeep the previous day, tent camping was the end result. Finding a nice level spot near the creek, my brother and I unloaded the tent from our old Cavalier which seemed to look lost with the scenery of wilderness surrounding its city facade. With each step and each fresh breath taken, I knew the weekend would be one to remember.
My brother, Dan, was just recently engaged, so I knew our days of brotherly bonding, as one might say, were drawing to a near close, as he moved onto the next chapter of his life story. This weekend was meant to be a week long excursion through the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, however, just as plans are meant to be broken, they were indeed.
We are whistling brothers, its something that we've always done both consciously and unconsciously. Others make reference to it a bit, but like I said, its something we do. Naturally we whistle as we set up camp. The tune isn't in unison between our lips, nor is it even in the same key. We are different, we live daily by our own books, but it doesn't change the friendship that we have between us. Too many friends have I heard say they can't stand their siblings, and every time I lack the complete understanding. My family has always been close, and I suspect will remain that way for all the years we have even as some move away with their own new family. My brother and I have always been close. Yes, 2 1/2 years apart, but close in a let's go grab a bite to eat, or let's catch a round of golf this weekend, and closeness of blood and friendship together, a closeness that should never be taken for-granted.
The site was set up, along with an early lunch on the table, and bees in the air. I am personally not a big fan of bees. Most bugs don't bother me all too much, but I have had my run-in with bees that left a mark mentally and physically. A few years back when at camp with the high school marching band, we lowered the basketball hoops to bring a new intensity to the game. When going up for the behind-the-back dunk, not only did I make the basket, I made a nest of bees and wasps not too happy. Two stings later on the hand, I was a little slower, but still in the game. Never before had I had problems with stings. I'd had them everywhere from arms and stomach to the bottom of my feet while walking out to a swimming pool barefoot, but this time the juices of the wasp and bee together didn't settle too well. Within the hour, people were commenting on the swelling of my neck... and that's all the detail that needs to be taken there.
Sitting at the splintered old picnic bench in the silence of birds, leaves, and clear blue sky, I knew this was one of those days. One of those days that would make going back to class in a week or two so much more difficult. One of those days that your mind just yearns to last forever, just soaking up everything around. The creek gurgles and birds chirp, sounds that you never seem to tire of. The picture painted around us was one that can't be etched, it was beyond the fading leaves, crawldads, and noon campfires, it was the mentality. It truly was one of those days...

Welcome

Welcome to my new found blog. This is not the first blog site my fingers have found, however, this is the one I hope to make personal in a different sense. In that past, my blog has always been used as a personal day by day recollection of events past. This blog on the other hand, I hope will be a reflection involving short stories with a strong visual emphasis. I plan on posting a photograph that either I myself have taken or have found that strikes me, and telling the story of that photograph whether be the truth or tale.
I hope you find what is here to be both amusing and interesting and all comments are more than welcome through all means provided. Thank you in advance for taking some time and visiting.