Fleeting Childhoods, or Why The Halloween/Christmas/All Holiday Decorations Stay Up Long After The Holiday Has Ended

Like a thief in the night, Halloween 2011 has come and gone. Just like that. It never fails to amaze and shock me how, year after year, we prepare our costumes, buy our pumpkins, and dole out our candy, days-sometimes months in advance for one. single. day. Make that one single night. And if you live where I do, it tends to be a few hours, unless you like the endless sound of children screeching and carrying on because their costumes got wet and muddy in the rain. That tends to happen when it rains a lot. Thankfully, that was not the case this year.

Every year, after all the trick or treating is done, after the last ghoul or goblin has rung the doorbell, after we've sorted our 'gallons o'candy' into more manageable piles of Nerts and LaffyTaffy, we sit around, dazed looks on our mascara smeared faces, costumes half falling off and mutter something unbelievable like "Well, another Halloween come and gone."

Duh. We know it intellectually, yet deep inside keep holding on, unwilling somehow to embrace the fact that time waits for no one. And terrified to admit we're all getting older. With every passing Halloween, or every passing holiday for that matter, we're reminded of our distant childhoods, as well as, without warning, our children's fleeting ones. How rude.

At least this is how I rationalize why I tend to keep our Halloween decorations up for another week or so. The carved pumpkins perched atop the stoop still proudly light up the night. The gourds, (growing moldier by the day), dilapidated scarecrows and other 'spooktacular' creations right out of Tim Burton's mind- and all nearly past their prime- continue to marvel and dazzle the passersby. But only for a little while longer. For soon the spirit  of the Holidays will be upon us, and bring with it another chance to mesmerize and entice with its dizzying array of decor offerings.

And if you think keeping the Halloween decorations up is bad, just wait til Christmas. Those tend to stay up til well into the New Year, cause nothing says fleeting childhood more than watching the kids tear open presents on Christmas morning. So, yes, I'm older and the kids are growing up before my very eyes. Two of many facts I will choose to ignore. For now.

On a more positive note, Christmas lights go very well with 4th of July decorations, I've found.