Isn't it funny how the entire meaning of a holiday like Halloween means such different things at different points in your life?
15 years ago, Halloween meant going around my neighborhood with my mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends all dressed up like my favorite movie or television character to get pillowcases full of candy and loose change.
10 years ago, it was all about being able to go out with my friends to haunted houses and Halloween parties with girls; maybe even the occasional egging or toilet-papering. By then, at the age of 12, I was at a borderline age of appropriate Halloweening.
5 years ago, it was all about the chaos of Mayhem Night. Trashing everything in sight with whatever we could find at far away campuses that would never be able to reprehend us as long as we got away with it that night. You know; guy shit. Making the college newspaper for ambushing students and their cars from a fourth floor dorm with the generous sentiment of a basket of free apples.
As of late, I've been more or less appreciating the time of year for the warming aesthetics and unique feeling that autumn brings. Also, a lot more appreciation for family has come over me. I love spending Halloween at my home with my mother and girlfriend; giving out candy to trick-or-treaters, waiting for the rounds from my little cousins in their costumes, and just relaxing and talking about the past Halloweens from the last 15 years with people I love.
Of course, this year I am in State College where Halloween means nothing more than justification to wear the sluttiest outfit you have; or if you don't have one, just stop dressing once you've found your best pair of underwear. Don't get me wrong, I'm not too old in my young age to appreciate this for what it is. Kids who have nothing more to say than to simply muster a drunken, "Woooooo!" into the faces of their friends and strangers alike.
"Yeah, you're drunk and I'm not... yet," I think to myself. "I get it."
Anyways, I guess this was a post to everyone out there in all walks of age and life to simply appreciate the holiday for what it is or what it means to you. I can personally still enjoy it as all three things that it has meant to me; candy, chaos and cognitive reminiscing.
Remember; Bright Colors, Reflectors, and Razorblades,
Brad Beneski
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