Halloween in the City

[Store window, Newbury St, Boston; 10/31/09]

Halloween is supposed to be the time when the veil between the spirit and physical worlds is thin, the ghostly or ghastly becoming more visible to the living. That's why I liked this spectral image of a mannequin peering out through a headless silhouette all "decorated" with yellow fall foliage reflected from the street below. 

 

D spotted the window display and pointed it out to me on Saturday morning as we walked back from breakfast. We'd eaten at the Trident bookstore on Newbury St where we were seated by an apparent sheep (white cotton balls stuck all over her shirt) and waited on by a young woman wearing a bouncy skirt and 60s-style sweater set that we took to be a Mad Men theme. Later on, we saw an occasional odd sight such as a box of popcorn walking down Boylston St. At other times, we found ourselves asking whether this or that person was wearing a costume or whether it was just a fashion statement. Or, Does that guy have a really prodigious 'fro or is that a wig? No, I think that really is a homeless guy...

By evening, more Halloween revelers could be spotted on their way to parties or clubs, dapper vampires and bewitching witches and the like. Alas we had to leave mid-evening so D could drive me home and himself back to town to finish packing up for his early morning departure on an annual trip with the guys. The ghosts and goblins in my neighborhood were already heading home with their loot when I got home. Though I didn't have candy this year (in fact, I haven't given out candy at the door since I left Grafton, being out and about elsewhere every October 31), I knew I wouldn't miss out on all the sugary chocolate as my colleagues would be bringing in a large supply of leftover candy this week, and they did.

Comments

[maria]

That photo captures the image of the day so well! I loved your description of walking down the street, too. For us, here in the heart of car culture, it's hard to come by a pedestrian parade of characters on this day.

[Leslee]

Thanks, Maria. Maybe over in San Francisco there were ghouls on the streets? At least they walk on those streets. :-)