Happy Halloween!
Posted by Desert Diva on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
I’d seen this woman traveling around in her power wheelchair while driving in Las Cruces. I had wanted to stop and ask to photograph her, but I was too shy.
However, you can imagine my surprise when I went to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Sunday (I’m a member, but somewhat of a “heathen” so I sit near the back.)Â When I went up for communion, who should I see at the very front of the church on my left than the “Pumpkin Lady of Las Cruces.”
After church, during the “cake and coffee” time I asked to photograph her. She was “quite willing,” and so you have it. She may be a little “different,” but she’s fun-loving and spirited and obviously hasn’t given up on life. I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere…
My memories of Halloween are dressing up with my brothers and sister to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. One Halloween, my parents wisely chose to outfit us all in zoo-themed animal flannel pajamas that came with a mask.  After Halloween, we ditched the mask and all had some warm “pj’s.” That’s what you do when there are seven children in your family. When we had tired of trick-or-treating, we went home where my mother had spread out cider, fresh donuts, and popcorn. The only thing I hated about Halloween is that if my mother “ran out” of candy for latecomers, she “raided” our stash to give away to trick-or-treaters. How could she do that when we worked so hard for our bounty? 
Halloween is one of my fondest memories of childhood – of being loved and protected by my older brothers, and coming home happy and tired to a mother who created a “little magic” for her children…
Filed in Journal,Photographs,Pondering Life | 7 responses so far
hey…I think I have seen pumpkin lady here…you take your camera to church.?..good idea…I used to take mine to the grocery store but I gave that up…I don’t remember anything about Halloween at my childhood house…yours sounds comfortable and pleasant…
A few years ago, well, maybe like a few decades ago, trick of treating wasn’t the “in” thing here in the Philippines. I distinctly remember how we at church (we are Methodists) go to houses decorated as “haunted” to make ourselves scared and screaming all the way out of the “haunted” house. That was a lot of fun then.
Now trick or treat is fast becoming a trend, a borrowed Western tradition, but my children don’t usually join the fun in choosing and buying costumes, dressing up, lining up to get treats (usually happens in malls). I don’t know but we were more apt to teach them about November 1 and 2 as days for remembering the departed loved ones, as these are church holy days.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful childhood memories of Halloween. Have a great week and take care!
When I was younger, i don’t remember doing rounds tricking or treating.What i distinctly remember was the older youth members in our church (we are Methodists) would decorate a house, make it scary and then we would pay to get inside. We had so much fun then, frightening ourselves and screaming all the way out of the house.
My children do not join the Halloween festivities. In fact, I think we are more focused on teaching them about November 1 and 2 as days to remember the departed loved ones. We say prayers and light candles for them, especially when we can’t go visit where they were buried.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful childhood memories. Hope you have a great week. Take care
I’m glad you have such wonderful memories of Halloween. We always had a wonderful time too. It’s just not the same anymore. Honestly, my son was never that into it. Of course, he’s too old now!
What a great photo. I love people who can just enjoy life no matter what.
I don’t usually feel comfortable asking for photographs, but I started a ’100 Strangers’ project and have been working on it. I saw her on the road by Save Mart and pulled over. She was happy to be photographed and I spent a few minutes talking to her.
Nice to see her again. It’s a small world!
http://flickr.com/photos/kristyk/1468481600/in/set-72157602126291742/
And I’m thinking that maybe you don’t allow html in comments? I left the link to my picture of her in the website box. Maybe that will work better.