Halloween

October 31, 2007

Not knowing if and what France does in celebration of Halloween, I bought Burbujitas an adorable little bumble bee costume before we moved here. I figured that if they didn't celebrate Halloween here, I would make my own celebration...which is exactly what I ended up doing. However, three of the four moms I had invited over for a morning play date had cancelled, two because their babies were ill, and the third (my best friend here to date), to my chagrin, moved back to England the day before rather unexpectedly due to the sudden loss of her husband's job. Nevertheless, I was all excited in the morning, and dressed Andrew up in his costume anyway, and he looked absolutely, absolutely adorable. One of my British friends called me and invited me to a little celebration in the afternoon but it ended up pouring rain, so we couldn't go. In the end, my American friend, someone I've become quite close to now, came over with her 7 month old and we celebrated very low-key and took lots of photos. It was the first time I felt somewhat homesick...I would have paraded Andrew around to everybody I know, treak-or-treating stops at all the neighbours, and especially a visit into work, where I knew the festivities would be blossoming. Every year at Life Care, I dressed up in my famous cow costume, encouraged my department to go all out, and looked like a total fool, but had a million laughs. I was so incredibly touched to receive in the mail, a week later, a slideshow CD of the Life Care Halloween for 2007, that included photos of me in years past, and a special photo of Andrew in his bumble bee costume that I had previously emailed, in addition to all of my work friends and their current year's attire. Next year, I'll be a little more prepared for the lack of celebration here, and perhaps make a bigger effort to celebrate American-style in France. I've been told that the French are resistant to the imposition of American culture but this is one celebration that I am bound and determined to share with my little Burbujitas, no matter where we happen to be living!