Abra Cadabra!

When I was little, I had a thing for witches. I don't think I was weird - I just liked reading stories about them and watching movies about them. Like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Hocus Pocus." Who doesn't like those movies? My generation grew up on "Hocus Pocus." I read little chapter books about witches and girls who had clubs that did witchcraft. Still not weird - I'm not the one writing them. In high school, "Wicked" became my new favorite musical. And I did a term paper (or two) on the Salem witch trials. (Ok, now doing the writing.) I was so excited to take my first trip to Salem junior year - and then incredibly disappointed when nothing spooky or spectactular happened there. It was actually a little boring. And I love field trips! I guess I thought my witchy powers would come to life while I was there. I'd discover I could pause time, and fly, and cast spells for good luck. The forcs had been waiting for the day I went to Salem to reveal to me that I was the real-life Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Ok - I'm pretty convinced I'm not the only one with a witch fetish here. With all these pop culture references and the popularity of Melissa Joan Heart, I'm convinced other people have a thing for witches, too.

And so that is why I have been a witch for about half my Halloweens. The first time my mom drew a little moon and cat in silver glitter glue on my black sweatshirt. One year I had a cape with orange pom-poms on it. One year I got a wicked wicker broom. One year I was a spider witch (yea, just go with it). One year in college I was Glinda, the Good Witch of the North - that counts, too. Some people may think a witch is a cop-op costume considering I wear mostly black on an ordinary day. But I just love dressing up as a witch on Halloween! And despite my affection for my alter ego, every year my friends pressure me to do the same thing, and think really hard to be all creative and come up with a costume that's unique or funny. One year I actually was creative and dressed up for school like a Survivor on Survivor. Although I think it was too cold that night for trick-or-treating in the skimpy shorts, so when I got home from school I changed into the witch. Oh! Last year I was Sarah Palin! Although, some would put her in the witch category, too.

I was struggling again this year coming up with a costume. Tina Fey's Liz Lemon was my forerunner - but she only requires putting on a pair of glasses and wearing my hair in a low bun. I even thought about not dressing up. I'm not anti-Halloween or rebellious in nature, but I just don't get all excited to dress up. Maybe because I'm alwasy playing characters and wearing costumes every time I'm in a play. Or maybe because I'm 24 and Halloween is pretty much a kid's holiday. But then I had an "aha!" moment. A witch is a Halloween icon. A witch is traditional and classic, and something we think of when we think of Halloween. Nobody thinks of Tina Fey! And I figured all I had to do was go out and buy a witch hat. It would be an investment, considering I have no future plans of being anything but a witch for every Halloween for the rest of my life.

I am actually really happy right now that I am dressing up like a witch tonight! Why did I doubt myself? I have green tights and a little black dress and a witches hat with green trim. I didn't even have to buy it - the girl I babysit for gave me her old witches hat. My head is actually smaller than hers. Weird, I know. And I already owned everything else so this recession-friendly costume has cost me: zero dollars! But I'm not going to put green make-up on my face just in case I break out. What if I go through all this effort to greenify my face and tomorrow morning can't get it off? Or I have to scrub really hard and then my face is burnt and red? Or what if it creates a chemical reaciton with my face cream? If I ever go to a really huge costume party with prizes, maybe I'll consider putting on a green face.