A Halloween to Remember

I’ve been telling people for years, “Halloween isn’t my holiday.” Then I found myself in a Raggedy Ann costume three times in one Halloween week! I even attended a performance of Dracula! What’s up with that?

Turns out, doing something together with my brothers and sisters at Creekside is a powerful draw. Dracula came first - the one and only reason to go was to see Tracy dance. She was great!

Pastor Julie set up the first Raggedy instance with Trunk or Treat. Kent signed us up while I was away - “Oh! Ok.” So many new experiences. Scrolling through piles of pictures and instructions on the Web. Assessing the back of our Subaru. Choosing a costume. Turns out, Ultrasacs 33-gallon recycling bags (45 in a box) come in the exact vivid blue of Cookie Monster’s fur. (If you ever need some, I have 38 left!) I used a jigsaw to cut 1/2in cardboard into not-very-round cookies. (Still have ten fingers!) I found circular canvases at Target just right for Cookie Monster eyes. Who knew? I even left the plastic on them to keep the rain out. I have new powers now!

Then there was the wonder of driving into the Creekside parking lot and seeing my fellow Christians in an utterly new light. I was greeted by . . uh, what? A zombie on vacation! I had to hear him speak to know it was Jon.

Eventually, I made a brief tour of all the cars. The industry! The beauty! Our preacher from last week was dressed as a unicorn. Frankenstein, Kangs, Seahawks all made appearances. Kind of like a mini-Burning Man. I felt the thrill of being in a creative community.

The smallest kindness meant so much. Cindy dragged over a canopy to shelter us. Jon Stewart came by twice, first with a light and again with HOT CIDER! That was the best drink I ever had in my life!

Beyond the wonder of art and serving together, there was the joy of greeting intrepid neighbors, braving the downpour. We just want to meet and love them. Moms, dads, grandmas, babies, teens - they came. What a blessing!

Honestly, the pouring rain just made it all the better.

On Halloween night, I dressed up as Raggedy Ann for the last time. One trick-or-treater said, “You’re a rag doll!” Ding-ding! Another costumed teen, after surveying my red yarn hair and doll-face make-up asked, “Are you wearing a costume?”

*** Check out a sampling of the Trunk or Treat art below. For those I missed, feel free to send me a photo and I'll add it in!