In 1976, the year of the American Bicentennial, the Vanstone Family took their first (and only, as a family) trip to the United States. We arrived, I think, in September so missed all the July 4th celebrations and stayed there for six weeks. I was 11.
As far as timing goes it was poorly thought out. We missed the celebrations for the 4th of July and left the country before Halloween took hold. I didn’t mind though. I went to Disneyland and got six weeks off school, leaving behind a bully who shall remain nameless. Score.
So even though we were not around for the 76 Halloween season the costumes were already out and able to be bought before we left. And, oh boy, did I want a costume. I could be wrong here though, as memory often cheats, but it would seem that, back then, Halloween was for the kids. There didn’t seem to be any obvious costumes for adults (though to be fair I wasnt looking for them) however at age 11 I was too large for the costumes. There wasn’t an adult size costume to choose as there would be now. Sadly this didn’t stop me.
My brother, aged 6, chose the Six Million Dollar Man, being completely in love with him at the time. I went as Snoopy, continuing my love affair with Peanuts. The Snoopy costume, a black and white fire-retardant vinyl jumpsuit with a Snoopy mask, was way too small. It ended halfway up my legs and arms and I looked mentally challenged. It was also too tight for me so movement was nigh near impossible. Eventually it split along my butt, beginning a life long career of my clothes threatening to betray me and reveal way too much of myself.
There is a pic somewhere. I’ll try to find it. It’s not pretty but then , Halloween is about being scared.
YES! Found it! (which considering everything is packed away for my parents moving house this was a complete win)
So this is me as Snoopy, my brother Robin (now 6 foot 4) as the Six Million Dollar Man and my cousin Lisa as a generic witch. Curiously my cousin Scott,who was ten and a year younger than me, is not in that picture which further cements the idea that I was too old for this. I have cunningly covered my legs with knee-high white socks which, tragically, was either the style at the time or is proof positive that I have never, ever possessed any sense of style. (And if I can find a certain picture there will be a blog post proving my lack of style is genetic.)
I hate it when you say you have no style. You have buckets of style exactly where it counts: personality, ethics, conduct. Everything else is completely by-the-by.
Oddly enough, I recognized you before I realized you had on a mask………
And Nicola is right. You have plenty of style – except the one governing clothing decision. Hence your big shopping trip here!
Awwww cheers, the pair of you.
What mask? 😉
gee nige, just one more reason for me to love you! I so didnt know you were a peanuts fan.I too was bitten by the Charles M Schultz bug as a youngun’ and dreamt of having my very own Snoopy.I ended up with Danny Boy but he was just as cool as Snoopy in my 9 year old mind, and hence my life long love affair with the canines of this world.
That is a great story!! Those masks bring back great memories – my brother had an Evil Kenivel (sp?) mask that used to hurt when you put it on. Drat those sharp oval eye slits.