i’ve earned these easy spirits
I think it’s notable that before I even turned 30, I already owned two pairs of Easy Spirits and one pair of Aerosoles. (They’re cute, though. Honest. Not so orthopedic-looking.)
On Saturday, I turned 31, and I think my footwear is now totally age-appropriate, especially since I was ready to take to my bed after trick-or-treating with the baby.
I normally announce my birthday and this year I didn’t because I was too mopey. It wasn’t my age getting me down, but that lingering sadness from things not totally going our way. If you know me, you know that when I get sad, I get REALLY sad, and as my birthday approached, I panicked at the thought of random outbursts of tears whenever someone asked me how we were doing.
Early last week, I called my mom and told her that I just didn’t feel like celebrating my birthday and that I really wasn’t trying to be dramatic. And while my family wouldn’t let me get away with completely ignoring my birthday, things were very low-key this year, and I was so glad to put all of my energy into helping my kid celebrate Halloween.
The baby went as Zombie Troy Polamalu and his costume turned out pretty fantastic.
The only stuff that we had to buy were the wig (Troy’s luscious locks are almost more famous than he is, so there was no getting around it) and the makeup. The wig was actually one of those ridiculous dreadlock wigs from the costume store that we just combed out, trimmed, and tied in a ponytail. I was wildly insecure about this because I had read at least a dozen posts leading up to Halloween about racist costumes. Then when nobody noticed the zombie part of his costume until after we pointed it out, I became even more worried that people were glancing at his painted face and assuming it was blackface. My white guilt. Let me show you it.
Anyway, we went to our neighborhood’s annual Halloween parade and the baby took home the prize for scariest costume. The parade was thankfully very brief this year, but I managed to snap a picture of zombie Troy with the baby mayor.
My mom came over to dole out candy while the husband and I went trick-or-treating with the baby. This was the first year that the baby really got into it and we managed to cover quite a few blocks. His haul weighed in at 14.5 pounds. And we had a ton of candy left over because our side of the boulevard is apparently not where it’s at when it comes to trick-or-treating. (One block was so anemic that I proposed an outreach program where people from other candy-deprived neighborhoods come in and hand out their goodies.)
On Sunday we had to be at the soccer field at 7:45 a.m. for a playoff game. The baby’s team won but he got an earful from us for goofing off the whole time and not trying whatsoever and then getting pissed when he screwed up. For the second playoff game at 12, he was fired up and played wonderfully, scoring his first-ever goal. So they get to play for the championship on Saturday. At 8 a.m. (*quiet weeping*)
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Aww. I love it. My boyfriend was asked if he was dressed up as Troy when we went through a haunted house, but that’s just what his hair looks like.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm
My friend took a picture of a guy at a bar dressed as Troy, to send to me (she’s not even a fan! but knows of my obsessions!), and I sent her that picture of Zombie Troy & Luke in response. She was impressed.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
ok, that is def not black face. he has a bloody mouth! and his face is grey! what were these folks not seeing? blinded by the steelers love i guess.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Don’t knock the Aerosoles, they will do right by you. I wore them for my long walk home on 9/11 and the next long walk home for the 2003 blackout. Don’t even try to get between me and my Aerosoles. 🙂
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Awesome costume. And I know I am selfish, but I am kind of praying my kid does not want to play soccer.
November 5th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Constant Comment! My mom used to drink this too. This was my childhood tea. And of course, I can’ t handle even smelling it because it reminds me of my childhood. Nostalgia and nausea all in a box!