Monday, November 1, 2010

Why I Hate Halloween... And the Art of Yoda

It's November. Thank Heavens.

So, a lot of you know my dad is battling Pancreatic Cancer. (Yeah, it's the really crappy kind. Like if Lord of the Rings was about Cancer, Pancreatic would be Sauron. Or Saruman. Which one is the big red burning eye?)
(My Dad's on the left)

Anywho, he was diagnosed exactly 3 years ago on Halloween. Yeah, that Halloween really sucked. We found out after we'd already dressed up in our costumes, so I remember that year as a bunch of people in costumes, sitting on my sister's porch, balling our guts out. Even the clown was crying. 

My Dad is currently beating the disease, but every few months the doctors test his blood for signs of recurrence. Last Halloween, we had a scare. Again, it was the costumes and the crying. This Halloween, we had another scare. And again, the costumes and the crying. 

Halloween has become this day where we're dressing our kids up as ghosts and ghouls, all the while crying about the really scary things in life.

Thankfully, we just found out his tumor marker went back down again. I don't know what it is about Halloween that makes his blood go all wonky, but it's getting to the point where I just want to skip October completely. 

Since that's not possible, here are some pics from our Halloween. Really, we were mostly happy!

 Who knew Darth Vader could look so harmless?
 

 Yep. It's Kid B behind the mask. And let me tell you, there's nothing more fun than a Halloween Parade at a school where most of the kids don't like things touching their skin...


 The formidable duo of Kid C and Kid B. Tell me that wouldn't scare you to open your door to find these two on your front porch, demanding candy.

This is my nephew A on the right and his friend F. I had to take this pic because Kid C kept trying to describe F's costume:
Kid C: "He's a chicken. With magnets."

me: "What?"

Kid C (exasperated): "A Chicken! He's a magnetic Chicken!!"

So, when I finally saw the costume, it all made sense.

The trick-or-treating gang. My favorite is the Grim Reaper, standing off to the side, contemplating the best way to decapitate the group with one swing of his scythe. 
It also reminds me of a joke: "Okay, so Mario, Luigi, Darth Vader, a couple of ninjas and the Grim Reaper all walk into a bar..."

While we were waiting for Kid B's parade to start, Kid C sat in the middle of the floor, breathing in an out loudly through his nose. 

He said he was doing Yoda to calm himself.

His teacher's from India, and she teaches them the Yoda from her home country. 

 How was all y'all's Halloween? Do you have the same traditions as we do? i.e., Do you sit around on a random porch, all dressed up and balling your guts out?

21 comments:

  1. Those costumes are so cute! They look great. I went to a basketball game and then a corn maze. It was a blast, I love Halloween. I'm glad your dad is doing ok! I hope next year you don't have such a scare!

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  2. Lulabell- Thanks! How was the corn maze? I always love a good corn maze at Halloween.

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  3. so glad things are good w/your dad brodi.

    we need less bawling on halloween.

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  4. I'm so sorry about all the struggles with your dad's health. We'll pray for him. =]

    Despite the tears, all of you look pretty darn cute!

    p.s. I though the chick magnet was hilarious.

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  5. I'm glad your dad's tumor marker is back down. I'd want to avoid Halloween too if I were in your shoes. On the positive side of things, though, the kids look really cute in their costumes. And, tell Kid C I want him to teach me the art of Yoda.

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  6. L.T.- That's a "Magnetic Chicken" costume, silly!

    Jenni- Kid C will start teaching classes in Yoda at the YMCA. I'll let you know the schedule.

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  7. At least your kids like real costumes. Every year I have at least two "hunters" (often because they were hunting with daddy all day). The plus side? Easy costumes: warm clothes, daddy's empty bullet-belt-packs, and orange vests.

    I'm a fan of easy costumes. This year I wore dark clothes, donned eyeliner, red lipstick, and a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth. Insta-vampire! (Yes, my normal work clothes could probably have produced the same effect--but they're not as fun.)

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  8. Your kids are so cute. I hope your dad can beat it once and for all - Halloween isn't supposed to be so sad! Pancreatic cancer is terrifying. Your dad is a strong man to have made it this far and doing so well. Lots of good wishes and prayers heading your way!

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  9. Brod - that really is crappy. You're forever scarred now. Doomed with those darn test and the horrible waiting. I'm so sorry. But relieved to hear he is still beating the cancer! We live on the edge, don't we?

    Loved the costume pics. And Yoda... maybe Doug will take up the art. Now that he knows it's called Yoda.

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  10. That's great news about your dad! I didn't realize you were finding out today. Hoorah!

    Something about the lunar cycle...although I guess it would be solar...anyway, something to do with the pull of the tides or something affects his blood. Let's yell at the sky!

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  11. Well your kids are adorable!

    I am sorry you have to deal with all those scares on Halloween! I totally understand that feeling. I lost my dad to lymphoma last year after a 6 year battle. He was very sick. I pray your dad continues to win his battle! Hugs!

    Oh and it is Sauron. I always wondered why JRR Tolkein make Sauron and Sauramon's names so similar.

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  12. Robin- I love the easy costumes! Every year, I go as a housewife. (But for me, that is really dressing up.)

    Sara- Thank you! He is definitely a strong man, and right now he's going all Chuck Norris on Cancer's arse.

    Cath- Livin' on the edge, you and me both. Here's to good test results for your mom too!

    Emily- I yell at the sky every day. That's why they call me the town crazy.

    Stupid Moon!

    Aubrey- I'm sorry about your dad. Cancer seriously sucks the big one.

    Thanks for the Sauron/Saruman clarification!

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  13. Ah, Brodi, that's tough. *sends positive vibes and prayers*

    Good luck trying to keep the fun in the holiday, especially for the kids. The costumes are great.

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  14. Donna- Thank you for the good vibes. The good thing about kids is they force you to find the fun in the holiday!

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  15. Glad the markers are back down. Maybe next Halloween you guys should celebrate it a week early so there is no more costumes and crying.

    As a totally random and not 'family friendly' comment, my word verification is "semin". Interesting.

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  16. Debbie- That's a great idea. Next year, Halloween, same time, same place, but one week earlier.

    And why don't you like your word verification? Do you have a problem with sailors? :)

    And last thing, miss Debbie... play a word already!

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  17. Boy that sucks. It seems like your dad has been doing well for a long while. I hate the scares. I love the Yoda though. Too clever.

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  18. Another scare?! Oh Brodi, I'm so sorry. I'm relieved they are back down. Yay for Uncle Denny!

    I finally got on top of it and added your blog to an app in my phone so I can read it more regularly. But, it doesn't let me post comments. So just know that I am out there - chuckling along (every Saturday at our soccer games I still find myself remembering the soccer post and I break out laughing - hard to explain to the people sitting next to us :). Love you Brodi!!

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  19. Heids- Thanks, couz.

    Susie- I love spontaneously breaking out into laughter and getting strange looks from people! It's like my favorite pastime.

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  20. I just can't stop laughing at the chick magnet costume. It's hilarious.

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