The Halloween From Hell

So, in retrospect, I think I bit off more than I could chew. See the pic? A screaming banshee...that's what I pretty much felt like for most of this year's Halloween. Hey, it started off great--beautiful weather, etc., etc. Everything I had been planning and working on for the past YEAR was coming to a delightfully expectant and right-on-target finale. My Haunted Forest, my "Deadwoods" walk-through haunt looked to be a smashing success, except for the fact that I just really didn't realize how much extension cords cost--and while we already had a good supply, it wasn't enough to cover the 250 feet from the nearest electrical outlet to my haunt location and it's many requirements for spotlights. So, about $500 later, I had enough lights and cords. And then, the 'nor easter' hit--cold, rain, and wind. The tent that was my witches hovel, went over, smashing many of the bottles, etc., so I had to start all over on that. Then, it poured Saturday night so that 'performance' of the haunt had to be cancelled. So, Sunday, rolls around and while it's cold, it's clear and sunny. Cool. Then, one of my actors leaves the door open and one of my cats disappears. All work stops for a couple hours and I am a complete basket case (I love my cats and yes, we did find him). Finally, it's showtime and yes, people showed up (altho' not as many as last year--too bloody cold--at least for those of us who inhabit The South) and had a great time at the haunt. So, after the evening's festivities come to a close, I'm feeling better--all my actors showed up, folks loved it, etc. I go out in the cold to take pics and the next morning I load 'em on the computer and lo and behold, halfway through, the computer decides it doesn't like the way the pics are loading and half of them disappear, kaput! In the meantime, my husband has been taking all the lighting down so another photography session is out of the question. So, I make do and smile (seriously? no, I did not smile, altho' I tried). Here we go, then--and this is a good one--I move a lot of the props that shouldn't get wet into the big tent for the night, intending to pack them up the next day. A slight chance of light showers is forecast. Okay, a few drops fall and then a few more. By midnight, all Hell is breaking loose and it's raining cats and dogs. I think, hey, maybe you should go out and check the tents and I do and OMG, the rain has stretched the top of the tents to the max (like halfway down to the blinkin' ground and I am envisioning the Atlantic Ocean blasting into my tent in much the same way that it did in that most majestic ship, "The Titanic"). I race back to the house, pounding on doors to wake my kin, "Help! The tents are collapsing! Get up!" After much struggle and sweat, we manage to heave the water off and for the rest of the night, I go out into the bloody monsoon every bloody half hour until four in the morning to rid the tops of the tents of water which then proceeds to flood onto the ground and my props are soaked anyway. Sigh. So, yesterday was spent trying to salvage what I could and I think most of my 'stuff' will end up ok but will I ever do another 'whatever the weather' haunt? Nope. Sadly, I feel rather like I missed Halloween entirely this year and while I completely accept the stress that usually goes along with setting up a Halloween display, this one was a kicker--it robbed me of what I truly love about Halloween--that it is a holiday unto itself--it is like no other; it celebrates death and darkness and makes light of it; it both lessens and enhances our fear of the unknown; it's FUN for fun's sake; when being scared makes us laugh in the end. I don't know, maybe I'm laughing a little bit 'cause I think, "Damn! How much worse could things bloody well get this year?" It's a blinkin' comedy of errors and misfortune. Dark stuff. Then, again, it's HALLOWEEN. It's supposed to be dark stuff. Maybe it's just a test...