So today is Halloween. Everything is pretty much back to normal here after Hurricane Sandy. It feels a little weird that things should just go back to normal when for so many people life is a big ball of smelly crap right now. My mom in NJ, for example, does not expect to get her power back for another 7-10 days. Last summer, we had a very bad storm here called a Derecho. It was like if a normal summer thunderstorm took a bunch of meth and then for fun, also tried some bath salts. Then pretend you saw the thunderstorm in the Target parking lot and you were like: "Dude. You look really scary. What the hell is going on with you right now?" And the thunderstorm totally lost it's shit and decided that an appropriate reaction would be to eat your face off.
No one expected that storm. It happened with almost no warning. My mother in law saw power poles snap in half in front of her and the roof fly off her barn. She was without water and power for over 2 weeks. Things did not get back to normal right away after that storm. You couldn't buy things without cash. The lines at gas stations were hours long. Cell phones barely worked for a week. There were moments when you weren't sure if people were going to go feral and turn on each other.
But they didn't. They helped each other and took care of each other and they all got through it. And I really, really hope that is what happens to all the people in cold houses right now, wondering if it's safe to drink to the water.It makes me want to cancel Halloween.
But I can't. Because there are little people in my house who need life to return to normal. So tonight I will put on my costume. Here it is. I'm an old school rapper. It's so obvious, right?
I'll take the kids trick-or-treating and we'll have fun. But no party for the neighborhood. And oddly, my offspring understand that. They nodded in agreement. "It wouldn't be cool. Let's just order pizza or something."
[Editor's note: Cap'n Coupon would like you to know that it will be a store bought, frozen pizza.]
So it's going to be a low-key Halloween. It's going to be a Thanksgiving kind of Halloween. Because we're grateful to have power. And a house with a roof and heat and no water in the basement. I'm pretty happy that school is open. I'm glad my family in NJ is safe. I'm hopeful that all of you are safe and dry, too.
xoxo, Lydia
PS: Here's a really funny video on Halloween candy from the geniuses at Buzzfeed, which I'm sure we can all use right now. It is awesome. Enjoy!
(c)Herding Turtles, Inc. 2009 - 2012
OMG! This is hilarious. Thank you so much for sharing. I am crying because of the utter truthfullness (is that a word?) of the video. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the video! And Loooooove your costume! I have never heard of a "Derecho" before! Guess you learn something new every day. Although we have those lovely tornadoes here in the Midwest, I think I'm glad I live where I live right now. I've had one eye on the news and fingers crossed and prayers said for everyone who had to deal with Sandy! I'm originally from the East Coast (Maine), so it's been on my mind.
ReplyDeleteFrozen pizza rules in my house. Excellent choice. Have a Happy Halloween, and good luck getting back to normal!
Help! Help! Blogger thinks I'm a robot and ate my comment! At least I think it ate it. If there are two comments from me, I apologize. I blame Sandy.
ReplyDeleteLove your costume, love the video you shared, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Our group of friends (which includes several teenagers who are asking for trouble if they go trick-or-treating, even if they dress in costume) had planned to collect non-perishable food tonight to donate to a local food shelf. It was originally intended as 1) a service project and 2) a valid excuse for the teens to be dressed up and going door-to-door. It has extra meaning for us, now. We're hoping people in our neighborhood (which only lost power for a few hours) will donate generously.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how it went. What a great idea!!
DeleteI am DYING laughing at your costume! Oh my Lord, it is awesome! I totally hear you on Hurricane Sandy and agree that it is a good year to keep it low key. I just can't get over the destruction in NY and NJ. And the stories of amazing people helping each other. Seems like we can use that these days.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedoseofreality.com/2012/10/30/shelter-from-the-storm/
that video, just made me watch 30 minutes of videos on youtube. Thanks. so much for work
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yea I know how that is!
DeleteAll I could think of was RUUUUN DMC hahahaaa
ReplyDelete