Courage among the severed hands

On Halloween, my daughter Caitlin comes into her own. She and her mother and Nana have collected a vast array of Halloween related items over the years, all of them tacky (but fun). Caitlin erupts into a frenzy of decoration which always includes stringing fake spider web across the front porch at just the right height to garrote her father.

My attitude toward holidays borders on the curmudgeonly. I like a few simple decorations (particularly if I don't have to do them). I already have my house arranged the way I like it and tripping over pumpkin related items placed inconveniently is not my idea of a restful home life. Put the pumpkin (one pumpkin) on the porch, get a triple bag of Milky Way, pour a scotch and we're set.

This little guy is Cullen. He's the grandson of our neighbor Jackie. He came over to admire the severed hand lights, multiple pumpkin, witch and spook related items, as well as the life-threatening spider web. He was evidently impressed and eventually touched one of the severed hands. I think he could have done Halloween quite successfully as a little skater and not changed a thing. Note the skull and crossbones on his stocking cap. He and his family came across the street to visit our dogs, the next door neighbor's and ours, who were in turn visiting each other in the front yard. After a brief interlude with dogs (dogs is just dogs after all) he went straight for the severed hands. In a very business like tone, he announced several times to anyone within earshot that he was going to be Spiderman. He was of the opinion that it was time to get into that Spiderman costume.

My father was a holiday curmudgeon. His birthday was "just another day" unless you forgot it. He would grumble about Christmas hassle and then get misty watching us decorate the tree. "This is the best tree we've ever had," he would inevitably declare. He and I are still one in spirit in this regard: we like to be taken along for the ride, grumbling. If you listen closely you'll hear small murmurs of enjoyment.

We had a visit from Spidey later in the evening. Here he is demonstrating his web prowess with some minor parental assistance. Note the mask slightly ajar. He's using his spidey-sense.

Some kids approach life with great gusto. There's a clarity to their enthusiasm. Cullen is full of juice and ready for the next moment's wonder. What could be better?

I really like that Spider Man costume. My favorite though is Cullen's natural skater look. I'm going to have to find one of those hats.