Dakota Beacon

Halloween kicks off the Holiday Season. It sings a prelude to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. When the bright blue days of early autumn give way to cooler nights with a hint of frost in the air, you know Halloween soon arrives. And, if Halloween provides the prelude to the Holiday Season, then kids certainly take center stage.

However, kids do not stay kids forever. When the kids are grown and gone and the house is quiet, who do we dress up for Halloween? That is the question my wife and I bandied about a few years ago.

In hindsight, I admit that the proposal I was trying to express was a little less rational and a whole lot of foolishness. Eventually, our conversation took on a certain one-sidedness as my bright idea fell on deaf ears. I offered what I thought was a plausible suggestion. Nevertheless, the look on my wife’s face spoke of silent disapproval. You would have thought I was planning to put cellophane tape on the cat’s feet or committing some other unkind act of teasing. I merely proposed that, in lieu of dressing up kids, we celebrate by dressing up our elderly Siamese cat for Halloween. No harm intended; it is all for fun. For my effort I was rewarded with a wordless glance that cautioned “Now, don’t be mean!’

I decided to take my case directly to (who else?) the cat. What did she think of my idea? The fuzzy beast and I had developed a warm rapport over the years. She and I understand each other instinctively. On that basis we connect comprehensively. Accordingly, we have no problem communicating.

“Kitty, my dear?” I thought I would approach the matter indirectly. “What do you want to do for Halloween,” I gently queried. “How would you like to celebrate the season?”

She looked at me with half-closed eyes, said nothing, then turned her back to me and rearranged herself within a splotch of sunshine.

Evidently getting her attention, much less her cooperation, would not be easy. I tried a more direct approach.

“How would you like to be a black cat for Halloween?” I asked cheerily.

I had assessed my challenge correctly. This time she looked over her shoulder and offered a stern “Meow.” Translated, that meant, “Are you nuts?”

“Just thought I would ask. You would be such a natural for the part.”

“Meow,” she replied nonchalantly. She stretched out her back leg and began washing it. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“I am not asking you to dye your fur, you know,” I said defensively. Obviously, I was not getting anywhere with this approach. So, I changed my tack.

“Well,” I probed, “what about dressing up as a witch?”

“Meow,” she countered, which I understood to mean “Be careful, pal.”

“Look here,” I said, trying to sound reasonable, “we could fix you up with a pointed hat and a black cape. You would look swell.”

“Me…OW,” she responded with a sarcastic emphasis on the “...OW” which I took to mean “Fetching, I’m sure!”

“It would only last an hour or so while the kids came by Trick-or-Treating. Come on; what da ya say?” I pleaded.

“Meow.”  Which, translated, means “Forget it, big boy!”

With her it may have been a pride thing or maybe she had an aversion to witches. I pressed her again.

“What about a clown?” I parried. “I could fix you up with a ruffled collar. And I have a nice ball to go with it. We could skip the hat. And I have a neat red thing for your nose.”

“Yeeoow!” Without explanation she got up and stalked out of the room. Did I say something wrong? Her exit terminated our conversation and along with it my hopes for a costumed cat. I should have known. It is easier to herd cats than to get one into a costume.

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The religious basis for All Hallowed Eve and All Saints Day, like other church-inspired celebrations, becomes more irrelevant each year. Like Christmas and Easter, and to some extent Thanksgiving, the religious significance for the holiday has evolved into an all-inclusive secular festival.

Regardless, we can all enjoy the season, each in our own way. Whether with friends, neighbors, kids, or pets we can all partake in the fun. We would certainly feel better, I am sure.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).