2000-10-31 - 19:43:04

I love Halloween. I've had twenty to enjoy, and they have all been good. But I have one memory, that is exremely special to me and I feel like sharing it. I already apologize for waxing poetic but even Tomatoes get sentimental sometimes.

I have a brother, whom I love very dearly but is thirteen years my senior. So keep in mind, this story is taking place when I'm five and he is eighteen. And I don't know when this took place, either his last year in highschool or his first year in college. I'm leaning toward highlschool because he wouldn't be in VA if he were in college. But anyway, I digress.

So, it was shaping up to be a pretty crappy Halloween for me. My Daddy was at work, older sister was at a party, my sister closest in age was Trick or Treating in another neighborhood with some of her friends, and Mommy wasn't feeling well. And I didn't have a costume.

Big Brother, Robbie, to the rescue.

He took one of my sister's Catholic High School buttondown shirts from her closet, one of Dad's ties, his very own good brown sport coat, a hat from his theater days, a bottle of some sort of amber liquid and went out and bought a corncob pipe. A little stage make up later, giving me flushed cheeks and bags under my eyes, I emerged from the house that night as a world class bum.

And being the genius he is, knowing that short five year old legs tire easily, he pulled out the red radio flyer wagon, filled it with comfy leaves, my blankie and a carved pumpkin complete with safe battery operated candle, and pulled me around the neighborhood, even coming to the door with me, knowing that his little sister was too shy to say the obligatory "Trick or Treat" by herself.

That night, he and I sat in the floor, counting candy and seperating the crap from the good stuff. He playfully would steal a piece of candy, but I didn't mind. Afterall, he was the reason I had it. And he was Robbie, my big brother, my idol, he didn't have to steal the candy, I would've gladly given it to him.

It's funny how memories can bring warm fuzzy feelings and sadness at the same time. I haven't seen Robbie in two years and in those two years, have only had one ten minute phone conversation with him. But he has his own family now, and lives thousands of miles away. I wonder if his kids know how lucky they are. I do.

Happy Halloween.

~FuzzyTomato