Halloween
Halloween has long been a curiosity of mine. As a kid I loved the movies that would come out around this time and then slowly, as each year passed, more decorations would appear on our street. Spooky has always been interesting to me – and my love of horror films and gothic novels keeps me satiated.
Now Halloween is a big business in Australia. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay and it’s best to either embrace it or be ‘busy’ on the 31st of October each year.
A house firmly defying the neighbourhood trend. I love the conviction. (A black door with a sign reading ‘Nobody home’)
This year I created little Halloween coil-covers for my audio processor, to get into the festive spirit. I was blessed with taking my three nieces and nephew trick-or-treating, and I thought ‘game time’.
It took me a few attempts to create a passable ghost, and not look like I had a tissue stuck to the side of my head. I think the googly-eyes were a good choice. I also made a jack-o-lantern and a mummy, and I wore these in the days leading up to Halloween.
With my ghost firmly attached to my head, we set off into the bright Melbourne evening (daylight savings, the best).
Some of these places were insane. Next-level theatrics with gardens disguised as graveyards, houses dressed as crime scenes. Even the local dogs were pulled into the action as spiders and devils.
I soon learned that trick-or treating as an adult is just holding a growing pile of lolly wrappers.
Each lolly wrapper was a reminder of my place as an adult in this scene. (A hand holding various lolly wrappers and old lollipop sticks)
Halfway around the neighbourhood circuit, my 6-year-old niece met up with her friend and introduced me. She has been teaching her Auslan during breaktimes at school and was so excited to show that I was real.
She asked me to crouch down so she could show her friend my ear-bling. They had a chuckle at the familiar shape of a ghost, in a most unfamiliar place.
My ghost in all its glory. (Hannah’s head showing her audio processor attached to a white fabric ghost, with googly eyes)
Now, my hearing isn’t great, but I did not miss the beautiful comment she casually spoke as they turned away – “that’s her special ear. She dressed it as a ghost for Halloween”.
I loved the nonchalance. The easily accepted fact that I was different but not scary.
One day, looking back, I think we’ll laugh at the real joke. That the ghost was there to represent my hearing. The hearing that had to be sacrificed so I was able to do things like go trick-or-treating and read them bedtime stories.
The ghost represents so much more than a spooky dress-up, but rather symbolises a life-long grief. But that’s not something to lay bare to a six-year-old. Even on Halloween!
I saw a few parents looking at my ghost as we made our way through the throngs of trick-or-treaters. I hope some mention it to their friends and someone down the line learns that it’s ok to dress-up your communication device.
It’s ok to have fun with it. Even if the hidden meaning isn’t very fun. Maybe even, a little scary in fact.
Happy Halloween! (Hannah and her sister-in-law and her children, scampering off to trick-or-treat)
