halloween

Halloween in New York is kinda crazy. Not like driving through Chicago, dodging illegal fireworks set off by cops or drifting in and out of clouds of smoke in Humbuldt Park. No, in New York, it is a wildly celebrated holiday - costumes everywhere, huge parades, businesses giving out candy, drunk and bald kids going to raves (yes.....raves! people still GO to raves). We started out the evening very innocently. Dave and I threw together costumes - farmer and engineer- and took the train to Park Slope. I teach in Park Slope and every year there is a parade on 7th Ave. I was like, oh cute...I'll see my students and they'll be all happy that I'm dressed up as an engineer. Dave and I climb out of the subway into a mass of bedazzles and face paint, strollers decorated as little blobby newborns slump over in costume, and giant, awkward inanimate objects, like sandwiches, walking down the street. This isn't a simple, oh-how-cute-parade. This is a major, everyone in Brooklyn, insane, drum circle extravaganza.

Well, ok....where do I go? Down the block? Near the school where big kids are having shaving cream fights? Back home? So I see one of my students retreating with his dad because the parade is starting and it's too loud. Daaaaaaad...he says when they stop to talk to me. Dave and I stand and watch....I don't know why I thought I would be able to recognize any of my first graders. I finally see another student and she is so excited, it makes it all worth it. Her dad captures my first ridiculously happy expression. After spending an hour standing there regretting my totally lame costume, we decide to get dinner.

Let's fast forward to hours and hours and hours later. After dinner and drinks, Lauren's Halloween party and more drinks.... We are standing on a street corner for, what seemed to me to be all night, but I'm sure was only a little while. If I closed one eye and squinted with the other, I could figure out where the cabs were. Here we go. Instantly asleep in the cab, wake up - where are we? The TV in the cab was playing the news over and over again. Mute it. Not home. Wow....I feel really, really gross. Keep eyes closed. It's ok. Breathe. Not a big deal. Wait......waaaiiiittt....Stop the cab! Stop the cab! Open the door.

I'll let you imagine the rest. It was lovely.