Fall Things

Ever since I was little, I’ve always said that fall was my favorite season. I love the weather and the leaves, and I think every little kid is inclined to love whatever time of year their birthday falls. Although I can’t say with as much conviction anymore that fall is my favorite season, I still have a certain soft spot for it. It is particularly beautiful here in the fall, and I’m hoping to enjoy the views some more while the leaves last.

I never really discovered the draw of Halloween until I was in college. Sure, it was awesome until I was about 10. But after that, dressing up wasn’t as fun anymore. Awkwardness and self-consciousness kicks in, and it’s hard to commit to being something other than yourself (heck, even being yourself can be hard enough in middle school). In high school, I never really did anything but hand out candy, which wasn’t all that much fun. Halloween basically became another reminder that I wasn’t a kid any more.

Enter college. Here, Halloween is at least four days’ worth of parties and dress up. And for some reason, dressing up is so much easier. You have roommates that you can swap clothes with to create fun, homemade costumes. Or you can spend all of your money on some expensive store-bought costume, and no one will think less of you. In fact, it’s almost expected. First year I bought a poodle skirt, out of practicality, really, figuring that was the most basic costume ever invented. It was fun enough. My favorite costume that year was an eighties costume that I threw together with a jean jacket, some black leggings, and some leg warmers from one of my roommates.

Last year, I didn’t buy a costume at all. I was a hippie and a racecar driver, both costumes that I borrowed from my roommates. Are you starting to get the picture? Halloween is an excuse to go on a clothes scavenger hunt in order to create as good a costume as possible. This year, I’m hoping will be my best college costume yet. I wanted to be Tinkerbell, but after looking at all of the online costumes I decided that they were all too expensive for bad looking costumes. Instead, I bought a lime green dance leotard on Ebay (don’t worry, the tags are still on) and some green tulle at Wal-Mart. I’m planning on borrowing one of my friend’s pair of green wings. I haven’t put the whole thing together yet, but I have a pretty good idea of how I’m going to do it. Of course, what is the ultimate Tinkerbell accessory? That’s right; I’ve convinced Brian to be Peter Pan with me. So I’m putting together that costume as well. As soon as I’m done with this paper (that I’m supposed to be writing right now) Halloween is going to be my primary focus. I’ll have to post a picture of the finished product.

I’m gonna go take a study break now to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with the roommates. I guess technically you have to be doing something in order to take a break from it…. oops. Happy Fall!