Happy Halloween.. and it was more or less. I woke up wondering/worrying how this day was going to go. As I’ve said over hte last few days, Hallowen was one of Sam’s most favorite holdiays. How could it happen without him ? Well…. it did.. and I missed him like crazy.. as I do every day.. *and* I was able to enjoy the day with Gabe, Diane and our wonderful community. That’s life these days.. remembering, integrating, moving forward….
The first sign I got that the day was really Halloween was at the security gate at work.. Seems everyone was in the spirit !
The day passed pretty quickly. I had a very interesting lunch meeting withthe folks form the Green Mountain Childrens’ Museum project. GMCM is planning a hands on fun museum for kids 0-8 in the old Moran building down by the waterfront. I’m goign to help out with the invention theme.
I also had a good meeting with my freind Ann at Champlain College on ‘Serious Games’ : the use of video gaming technology for learning and public good. It was my first official meeting of my new assignment at work. It felt good to begin digging in.
The rest of the day passed quickly. I managed to get home early in time to get out trick or trating with Gabe before dark.. Just before we left, our firend Adam came by the house… He had soem new ink done.. a perfect Halloween tribute !
We were readdy to roll about 5 PM…
Gabe and Jack took off for Richmond with Adam while we got the house ready for the 2-3 trick or treaters we typically get..
Diane and I drove down to Richmond and walked back down to Jack’s .. The street was already hoping with Halloweeners.
We met up with the newest trick or treater.. Baby Indira born last Saturday !. Congratulations Ben , Ezra and Rachel ! Welcome Indira !
The kids were getting readdy at Jacks.. this has been our tradiion for the past several years.. normally Sam would already be off with his friends .. and we’d meet up later This year.. it was the trhee of us.. I was thinkign of our earliest trick or treating with Max in Pittsburgh.. (Max what did you do tonight ? )
I had a bit of an equipment malfunction withthe lights I was wearing. I ran up to Marshall and Gretchen’s to borrow their soldering island.. I was somewhat successful in my fix.. I then ran back down and met up with Gabe, Jack , Austin , Diane, Jack, Gay, Jean and David. The streets were jumping at that point.
Pleasant Street is always Halloween Central. I remember every year standing on that street and thinking how lucky I felt to live in Richmond Vermont. I thought that even more tonight.
Mr. Rainey is always there adding a bit of Scottish background music.
We ran into Michael with his new ‘Mr T’ hair… now THAT’S a costume !
Martha wante da picture.. so here it is !
Todd serves up hot or cold cider
Ad Gretchen serves up doughnuts to go with them.. That’s a Richmond tradition.
It also wouldn’t be Halloween without a sto in Bridge Street Cafe to see Marvin and family.. and get a quick ‘soda’ . We ran into Chris while there..
Kelly-aka-Frieda-Kalo was just outside.. (not yet in unibrow)
We eventually worked our way up to Southview. We dropped off the kids then Diane and I went to Susan W’s house to wait for them. They have a nice phot montage of Sam there.. We sat and talked about Sam, Sumner, life and everything else. She’s so easy to talk to .
Eventually Gabe and his buddies got to the Susan’s and we trundled thme down the hill to Jacks. On the way home we drove by Tower’s in Huntington to get a look at the annual pumpkin display.. another tradition..
We got hoem around 9. I got a few pictures of Gabe’s costume.. Standing and jumping.. He was pretty flashy !
I wnet out to blow out the pumpikins.. Looks lke we’d had a hnadfull of trick or treaters come by.. there was plenty of candy left.
This pumpkin just spoke to me … part of me feels just like he does right now..
Inside, Gabe was counting his loot..
Here are my favorites.. yum !
Gabe told me that he had 272 pieces of candy ! That’s quite a haul !
Things wound down quickly from then on.. I fell asleep on the couch. Gabe and Diane went up to bed… I woke up and remembered I hadn’t blogged. What to say abotut a day like this.. I didn’t feel like I thought I feel.. it’s rarely the things you expect that are hard… Sam.. I felt you with me so much today… It made me happy … As I lay down to blog, I found that Diane had forwarded a picture to me from Rand and Julie. It’s of Sam and his friends at their house one year ago tonight getting ready to go out trick or treating. So much can change so quickly.. Look at these beutiful kids ! I love you guys.. I love you Sam !
The day before Halloween. Sam’s favorite holiday. It will be sad goign out without him.Everything is sad I guess.. I’m still looking forward to going out and seeing everyone tommorrow night . I alwas come back from Halloween beign so greatfull for living in such a close and wonderful town. I’m going to really need to tap into that tomorrow. .. that.. and Reese’s peanut butter cups are goign to have to get me through.. Not much more to say tonight.. I’m just beat.. I need to save my strength for hauling all of Gabe’s ‘s candy tommorrow night.. Until then.. Trick or treat everyone.. Trick or treat Sam.
I can feel things winidng down today.. were back from our big trip, th halloween party is over, Max is back at school and I’m transitioning to my new role at work.. All the big planned stuff is behind us for a while.. It’s time for us to quiet down and just ‘be’ for the month ahead. I’m both looking forward to.. and a little nervous about the quiet times over the next several weeks. I know I need them.. Before I settle completely, I still have some pictures from yesterday which I wanted to share.. We woke up yesterday with at least twelve kids sleeping in the house.. We’d done some cleanup after the party.. so the house was pretty tolerable.. Kids started waking up at 9 there was a steady stream of sleepy looking college types drifiting in for coffee and donoughts which had been graciously provided by Jessie’s mom Joan.
The art kids amused us by dodling. Chris did soem amazing cartoons including this very cool rhino with a toothache. It’s amazing to watch him work !
Lady wolverine
Victor came over to hel us clean up the rest of the house !. Many hands made light work for us
After cleaning there was one small strip of streamers stuck about 30 feet off the ground in the front entrance way. Gabe vowed to find a way to get it down. He climbed up in the tower and lowered a stick on a string to knck it loose.. It worked.. Looked how high up that tower floor grate is.. Eeek !
We had a little bit of famly time before Max had to leave.. We did some sharing of what we wanted to do as a family as the anniversary of Sam’s passing comes up. It’s good for us to all be together when we can.
Around 2:30 I drove Aaron and Max down to Rutland to catch the 5:15 train to NYC. Nice quite drive with beautiful sun (and beautiful on. ) ..I actually love long good byes
THe rest of yesterday was pretty uneventful. We were all in bed at 9 afer watching “Plan 9 from Outer Space” one of the worst/best B movies ever made.. It’s by Ed Wood and was released the year I was born. If you’re interested.. You can watch the whole thing here. It’s too bizzare to miss !
Today passed very uneventfully. I was struggling to keep focused and engaged all day. I can’t remember ever having this much problem motivating.. But It doesn’t seem to b bothering me much. It’s a strange feeling for me.
Tonight was nice.. I got home in time to take Diane’s yoga class.. then the three of us went up for a small birthday party for Deb T. It was really nice.. gret food, great company.. They’s made this cool ‘Sam’ pumpkin
We had a great meal then snag ‘Happy Birthday’ to Deb. She’s such a great person.
And that dear friends was my entire day.. Not much to it, I know.. Hope all is well with all of you.. you too Sam..
I wasn’t sure how last night’s party was going to turn out .. or how we’d all feel about it… but in the end it was really good. We had lots of help from our friedns with set-up, so that part was really easy… even so, around 4 in the afternoon yesterday, I was so tired, I couldn’t imagine having a party.. it had been rainign hard all day and the though of hundreds of soaked party gowers tromping around the house was pretty hard to get my head around… but… the rain broke right before the party started.. and people started showing up right at 7.. and by about 7:30.. the place was packed. the mood was good.. Sam was very present in all of our minds.. So was being together and having fun… I have no idea how many folks showed up.. but the house, barn and yard were still very full at midnight… we finally got everything quited down around 1:30… a great night.. and here it is in pictures: Thanks to all who showed up !
-me
The lull before the storm.. some of our friends did some last minute decorating
Sam’s room was a favorite hang out before and during the party. It always has been Max’s friend Chris was goign as Wloverine (he really looks like Wolverine). He wanted some claws.. so I welded him some yesterday afternoon
Samara (named for the little helicoptery things that fall off of maple trees) and Brittany are soem of the first to show up
Garret looking thoughtful (I think)
The inside ligths before many folks showed up
Max as Buddy Holly !
Me as Times Square
Kids hanging out int the garage.. about 7:15
Dinae is the Sue – Chef.. a lawyer cook !
Jessie – nice version
Jessie – mean version
Main room aout 7:30
People !
My lights in Rger B’s chestpiece (Roger.. you won a custum competion category .. we’ll get you your prize)
The art school kids.
Emily came as a tatooed person.. and the rest of the Pratt kids did her ink .. it was amazing.. all of this was done using Sharpie pens we had around the house
The food table started to fill up Sam was never out of my mind for a second
Spooky food !
Abbot came as his brother Mason (who called from Italy with Tyler, Rusty and Alex right before the party to say ‘happy party’)
Ryan came as his brother Eric
Jackie came as herself
Shoes must come off.. huge piles at all doors
Things started to get really busy around 8:30
Willa the pterodactyl Chadwicks !
Self portrait with headband
Many small hang out areas scattered through the house.. tpy room, tower, sams room, tv room, barn etc
The view towards parking
Gabe as flashy light up dude The front of the house
STarirs were always packed
Art kids chillign out in Max’s room
Sumner and friend
Juergen showed up from Germany.. (OK .. he was already in Burlignton).. Always good to see him !
The moon even came out !
Me and Sam again
Mary with stars in her eyes
It was crazy around 10.. We did the custume contest..
Marie K won most scary
Howdy and Keen won .. something.. Funniest ?
Emily won most elaborate
The SLoans (Jeff won.. ‘most basic’).. they got these smiles in the mail from their dentist earlier in the day
These guys got best team
Here’s the official prize list:
Most Basic : Jeff Sloan Best Classic: Bill Rogers Most Outrageous: MJ Dickerson Most Colorful: Rebecca Kelley Scariest: Marie Kenny Funniest: Howdy and Keen (Dylan Peters and Stephen Mignano) Most Unusual: The Trojan (Roger Bombardier Jr.) Most Elaborate: Cat Von-D (Emily Susen) Most Original: Austin Kemp Cutist: Little pirate dude Best Group: Lumberjacks – theyy sing ! (owen R-C, Ben Feinsen, and Nick Exler)
Lots of kids around the bonfire
And music going all night in the barn.. this was a quoet set with Erin B. doidg Regina Spekter
Gabe did some great fireworks
I did some homemade fireworks
Lots of folks were outside.. I think this was about 11
The view from outside
A tribute to Sam
We collected a good amount of canned goods for the food shelf..
Around midnight.. things still pretty busy
Nate playing Sam’s Sheckter
Thinking of Sam.. he would have loved htis party.. I hope he did
By 1:30.. things are empty.. still about 25 folks about.. but the room is clean-ish ..19/johncohn/Oct2807/Oct27119.jpg”>
That’s all for now.. DIan’es been up cleaning for over an hour.. I need to get craking.. Thanks again to all who came.. and Happy halloween to everyone…
