But that doesn't change our behaviour in the least. Many of us tempt insanity getting ourselves and our children ready for the Halloween Pageant, with God knows how much of our dough sunk into shitty novelties, tiny chocolate bars, and costume supplies of varying quality. And hey, I'm not saying all this is No Fun; it's just ...A Lot.
The early home rush hour rivals that of many holidays, but somehow that spirit of goodwill is lacking.
Maybe it's because of the gloom and general creepiness of the day; after all, we're facing tiny ghouls, goblins, and assorted licensed cartoon characters...but we're also facing DEATH ITSELF; something many of us have trouble staring down without a level of fear that can spawn anti-social grumbling on public transit, or some good old-fashioned wheel-gripping and dash-pounding.
Yes, we need a Halloween Holiday. On November 1, naturally, if we could pick just the one day. Give us the chance to sleep in, hide/throw away half of our children's bounty, wash the makeup off of their faces slowly, with far more care than the current weekday regimen allows.
And maybe, just maybe, take some time to reflect on The Dead; try to make inroads into our meagre understanding of mortality, draw the reaper a little nearer, with or without the aid of Blue Öyster Cult.
Our own government-mandated, country-wide Día de los Muertos. I can think of no better way to shake off the fog of consumerist masquerade than to a) take a day off; and b) consider the fate we all share, the life we have shared with those who have passed on, and the signs of rebirth in our midst.
I understand...we may not deserve yet another statutory holiday. We wouldn't want to get all...soft...or anything.
So I'll take part b) forward, without part a): Think fondly of The Dead as I pick myself up and go in To Work.
