Halloween is Hard – Even for Adults

Earlier this week, I posted a request for help on Twitter, as I try to figure out what to wear for Halloween – which is less than two weeks away.

NO! I’m not going trick or treating! I’m going to a Halloween party being held by my social meetup group. Although costumes are optional, it’s more fun if you dress up.

And how often do you really get to go out dressed as your favourite television character, movie star, or some evil demon, war lord or other fictional creature?

That’s part of the problem – or rather is the problem. There are so many possibilities, how does one choose?

I got some interesting responses to my Twitter request via posts and direct messages, including dressing up as a munk, Dracula, a 1970’s porn star, even a Smurf.

You can get costume ideas from junk mail too. Saw a flyer the other day for a major Canadian retailer, which had – of all things – a Ketchup packet costume. Not a whole bottle of the tomato-based condiment, nope – just a plastic packet.

Who’d want to dress up as a topping best served on greasy fries and burgers?

I’m struggling figuring out what to wear, but I’m not ridiculous.

Though I suppose that too makes part of the decision – a Halloween costume is a glimpse into a person’s personality, character as it is a visual representation of one’s imagination.

In a sense, you have to be brave to go incognito, because although you’re in costume, you’re showing off often unseen elements of who you are.

Though sometimes you can be too daring – or plain dumb. A few years ago I was working for a major Canadian bank, and woman who brought the sandwich cart every day dressed in practically nothing. To this day, I still haven’t a clue what she was supposed to be – I asked her, and she answered, but I was so astonished and distracted I didn't hear her.

After she had left our team’s area, I asked a fellow colleague what he thought of her costume. He said, it says she’s a young, beautiful, single, woman.

Yes, she was stunningly beautiful, but so very inappropriately dressed for the office. To me, it explained why she’ll be the sandwich lady forever.

Funny, I remember that Halloween story every time I start yacking about Halloween. And it would be nice to be memorable.

Maybe I should dress up as the sandwich lady for my Halloween party?

Then again, maybe not.