Halloween night I popped a vampire on the jaw because he wouldn't stop touching me. It was surprising, really. It seems as though that particular fight or flight impulse is still in order.
Jake (my bf), and a few friends of ours went to Netherworld, one of the top haunted houses in the nation, on Halloween night. It was my first night with grown ups doing fun things on Halloween in about 20 years because Justin (my ex) drove to the house to be with the kids, hand out candy, and keep the terriers from dying of a heart attack.
Darcy, the older terrier, threatens a coronary every Halloween. You'd think its doomsday every time the doorbell rings (which is almost non-stop) and costumed kids show up. His eyes bug out and he shakes. I'm not much better after the basement flash flooded a couple of years on Halloween night, but I digress. Apparently this year it went better. The puppy (Pico) barked and ran to the door and Darcy took the night off from his responsibilities as intrepid, vicious guard dog.
Meanwhile, Jake, Jason, Angie, Cynthia, and I had a marvelous time waiting in the cold rain at Netherworld. We actually did! We were all worrried about Cynthia popping an actor, because of her finely honed skills as a rugby player, but I surprised everyone, including the genuinely scary vampire by popping him with a well placed jab along his jaw when he ignored my warning to "stop touching me." Kapow!!
I controlled the punch, but gave him enough to get his caped arse away from me. I guess I forgot to mention that I used to have a black belt in TaeKwonDo. :p
And while on the subject of arses, I never swore this would be a family blog, but a blog about family, which is very different! The whole question about doing this while remaining sane is central to this whole foray into the unknown.
Most of us celebrated Halloween a new way that night. Don got to intimidate slouchy, uncostumed, older kids who normally attempt breaking and entering in their glee for free candy. Jake and I got to have a real night out with friends having fun. The kids pretty much did their usual thing as if I'd been there instead without having to leave their friends in order to go their Dad's place. It was good.
So I guess that when it came to the parking lot vampire at Netherworld, I chose to fight. Flight was my choice this year when it came to Halloween at the house. Sometimes fighting for what you want is the best thing in the world, even when so much is new and undefined. I'm fighting for sanity. Every day. It's not easy bringing up teenagers, working a commission job, staying in shape, and keeping the house together every day. Many days I feel ineffectual. But I chose to fight.
Jake (my bf), and a few friends of ours went to Netherworld, one of the top haunted houses in the nation, on Halloween night. It was my first night with grown ups doing fun things on Halloween in about 20 years because Justin (my ex) drove to the house to be with the kids, hand out candy, and keep the terriers from dying of a heart attack.
Darcy, the older terrier, threatens a coronary every Halloween. You'd think its doomsday every time the doorbell rings (which is almost non-stop) and costumed kids show up. His eyes bug out and he shakes. I'm not much better after the basement flash flooded a couple of years on Halloween night, but I digress. Apparently this year it went better. The puppy (Pico) barked and ran to the door and Darcy took the night off from his responsibilities as intrepid, vicious guard dog.
Meanwhile, Jake, Jason, Angie, Cynthia, and I had a marvelous time waiting in the cold rain at Netherworld. We actually did! We were all worrried about Cynthia popping an actor, because of her finely honed skills as a rugby player, but I surprised everyone, including the genuinely scary vampire by popping him with a well placed jab along his jaw when he ignored my warning to "stop touching me." Kapow!!
I controlled the punch, but gave him enough to get his caped arse away from me. I guess I forgot to mention that I used to have a black belt in TaeKwonDo. :p
And while on the subject of arses, I never swore this would be a family blog, but a blog about family, which is very different! The whole question about doing this while remaining sane is central to this whole foray into the unknown.
Most of us celebrated Halloween a new way that night. Don got to intimidate slouchy, uncostumed, older kids who normally attempt breaking and entering in their glee for free candy. Jake and I got to have a real night out with friends having fun. The kids pretty much did their usual thing as if I'd been there instead without having to leave their friends in order to go their Dad's place. It was good.
So I guess that when it came to the parking lot vampire at Netherworld, I chose to fight. Flight was my choice this year when it came to Halloween at the house. Sometimes fighting for what you want is the best thing in the world, even when so much is new and undefined. I'm fighting for sanity. Every day. It's not easy bringing up teenagers, working a commission job, staying in shape, and keeping the house together every day. Many days I feel ineffectual. But I chose to fight.
