Halloween 2013

A Nantucket Halloween

I am not a scrooge, but I have never liked Halloween!... In many ways its has always had a cruel twist... trick or treat in New York meant more trick than treat... razor blades in apples, beating up with chalk bags; intimidation... the treat on the street often meant money.

I have always shunned the event until one year I spent Halloween in Nantucket. There it was truly an event for the children with an adorable parade up Main Street, parents and kids dressed in fun costumes, shop keepers providing candies and cider... Trick or Treat became a treat. It softened my heart and I have ever since wanted to celebrate this Holiday on the island... and last week I did!

Halloween Parade on Main Street

All photos by Lisa Frey courtesy Mahon About Town Nantucket Newsletter

In my bombastic way, I decided to throw a party for my adult friends and their progenies... (Grandfathering had never been my favorite sport, though when the "bratlings" reached adulthood, they became quite compatible human beings.) With the encouragement of my young friends, I brazenly set out to do a party. (This had always been my wife, Erica's domain. In those early days these parties were restricted to six to ten year olds... to my horror, the kids cut loose with no holds barred. I tried to shrink from these affairs, disappearing into furthest corners of my apartment.

Now, I was about to follow in her footsteps, treading where I had never dared go. A costume party! My friend Tessa created spider's webs all over the house, Betsey put the finishing touches on the food and house decorations, Marissa, my wonderful housekeeper baked ham, turkey, pigs in a blanket, hot dogs and prepped lots of candy and finally kind Angelica stood by in the kitchen to make sure there were no food fights. I cut out paper shopping bags for spooky lanterns and remembered to add black lighting from Erica's parties. To accommodate the young, I set the party-time for 6:30 (I am never ready by 6:30 and this was no exception) 'cept guests didn't care... they arrived with kids in tow straight from the Main Street Parade. Musicians dutifully brought their instruments including Lucy with her bass fiddle, everyone took my invitation seriously and came in costumes... The rest is a picture story.