Good morning, Friday (and November). I'm in the office with candles it listening to Darklands by the J & M Chain on this gloomy day and enjoying the productive lethargy vibe I'm experiencing. Sometimes getting things done on a sleepy day is somehow more pleasant, particularly when its enhanced by dreamy music and a lovely scent in the air (currently burning Voluspa's Crane Flower, which according to their site, contains notes of Bird of Paradise nectar, ripe grapefruit, geranium and lavender- it's not my usual but I do really love it- it's floral but not cloying).
So it was a big week for Halloween types this week and I have to say, I got caught up in it in a major way. I'm not much for costumes but I really enjoyed my agency's dog parade (as did Khan- I swear he was smiling as he pranced his little quarterback self around the office with the other gorgeous pups), and I loved my neighborhood's take on Halloween last night.
I loved seeing all the kids in their costumes, all the neighbors with their candy buckets giving out treats, and most of all- the quippy parents and their hilarious one liners and eye rolls. Cynical parents make me laugh, and the fact that they kept pointing to our bottle of wine we were hiding on top of the stoop and asking for treats was pretty hilarious. I know how hard it must be to get home at 4 pm from work to take your kids around the neighborhood, but from the looks of things, a great time was had by all. I loved how the costumes were original and handmade as well, or a lot of them were- it shows that parents took the time to help their little ones get ready for the big day. I just felt a lot of love and the kids were great about only taking one piece of candy each (we ran out about three times and had to make runs to CVS). One little girl was even kind enough to offer to donate her candy so we would not run out. That restored my faith in humanity right there. (That and the baby in the lobster suit inside of a pot I saw on Bleecker Street before I left the city last night).
In any event, there's nothing like New York on Halloween. I remember all of those years living right at the start of the parade on Sixth Avenue and Spring, and the joy of watching so many creative people strut their stuff was always pure joy. I watched some of the parade on TV last night and New York did not disappoint- with plays on everything from the government shutdown to a take on a snowball's chance in hell, I love the ingenious thinking of this city in the Halloween costume throwdown. Oh and any excuse to prance down the street drunk. Gotta love that.
Maybe it's the fact that things have been kind of tough this year, and the past few years really that I felt so comforted and happy to see so many of my friends on social media really going for it when it came to dressing up this year. Maybe we all needed to get out of our own skin for the night and be someone else, or something else. Maybe real life has just become too meh to handle and we need to have Halloween more than once a year. I see nothing wrong with neighbors giving out free candy to a troop of mini lions and construction paper/cardboard robots. I'm in favor of doing this more often, and I may even start thinking about a costume. For now, I'll just admire all of you beautiful people and your children and your pets. Khanny had two costumes this year and will probably beg to wear his again this weekend (not, but a girl can hope).
I hope you all enjoyed your celebrations- oh, and there's something good about global warming after all- no jacket over the costume. Last night was a bit drizzly at times, but it was beyond warm- and it was not just the mild temperatures- it was also those great heartwarming moments of people just having a great time. More of that please.
Cause that's what's up this post Halloween Friday in the very fabulous city of New York. Maybe there'll be a couple more parties this weekend to keep the costume dream alive. So oh hey, November. My favorite month of the whole year with my absolute favorite holiday- Thanksgiving. I can't wait. I hope there's still some candy around the office, ps. I'm still in the mood for trick or treating. Happy post Halloween! Yours, in autumn goodness. XO
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