Now that Thanksgiving is over, and soup is being made with the leftovers and such, the time has come to properly give Halloween some thought.
It isn’t so much about the costumes – Oliver seems to want to be a fireman, and we already have a fitting coat in the closet, so the rest is easy. Ava Scarlett will go as a darling ladybug for school (with black-and-red tutu and wings), and as a very scary chicken for the door-to-door part, if it’s to be freezing c-c-cold on the 31st, as it often is in Montreal by then. The costumes are not the issue.
How the hell am I going to top THAT this year?
I’ve always loved Halloween. For me, it’s less about dressing up, as it is about the pumpkin carving. I love carving me some pumpkins. I’ve been loving this “sport” for years and years, and even have special tools for such the occasion, since I’m all nerdy awesome like that.
I have a fat file of images I try to draw inspiration from – the eyes from one face, the mouth from another… and I like scenes, like cemeteries and haunted houses. I just love doing them. In years past, before the children came and I was working from home, I had time to carve a good six or eight pumpkins in time for the trick-or-treaters. Once I had to contend with the Little People, and get them sorted with costumes and makeup and all that jazz, I found I could scarcely get one or two done before the streetlights were on, and my bell started ringing.
Years ago, I’d use a stencil to make my outline, but since I’m actually pretty good at the carving, they didn’t serve as challenge enough for me. Now I look at a picture (or pictures) and draw it free-hand. Then I cut. I like not having to follow the stencil outright, and I add in my own cuts and nicks to make it more my own.
At this time last year, the entire world was abuzz with the idea that this seemingly out-of-nowhere senator could ACTUALLY become the president of the United States. I liked the guy. I liked him so much more than anyone else running in the election, and was amazed that the times were indeed a-changin’. I caught the YES WE CAN fever, like many others around the globe. I found this stencil and got to work. Since time was not exactly on my side the day I carved it, I had to stay pretty true to the drawing, and it still took close to two hours to clean, cut, and finish. I really did rush the job, and the whole time I was thinking, This is soooo gonna suck if you don’t slow down… slow down! You are SUCH a loser for leaving this so late… failure! Are you crazy trying to carve this thing? He isn’t even YOUR president!! You’re gonna cut a finger off… careful with the ears, they’re key… hurry! Oh my god, slow down…
When I was done, I lit the candle inside the orb, turned the kitchen lights out, and stood there, a little amazed. Holy shit, that’s eight kinds of awesome… I rock!! I think I even patted myself on the back a little. My Barack-O-Lantern. Or my Jack-Obama, if you prefer. This is how it turned out:
And so, I ask you: how the hell am I going to top THAT this year?
My search for come great images begins this week. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so I’m hoping to have a bit more time to get organised on the big day, helping the kids carve theirs, so mummy can have some time to do her own masterpiece of sorts. I have no idea what to do this year. Maybe I’ll have to do him again, only free-hand this time. Maybe I should be just aiming lower…
G.G.
