The EYES have it!: Day 304 ~ Hagatha Lou Returns!

October 31, 2014

My Instead: I dressed up as the bag lady, Hagatha Lou, to join in the fun with the kids on Halloween.

Halloween was here! I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to work it this year. Should I just stay at home and hand out candy? I haven’t done that for quite a few years. Or should I make my rounds to see all the people that I’ve grown so fond of…my family? Should. What a word, what a word! I’ve been burdened with that word periodically throughout my life. Most of us are familiar with the all-too-frequent “shoulds” we hear as children. And some of us earn the added bonus of being “shoulded” even as adults. Does this explain why “shoulding” myself is so second nature to me? Well, it is and it happens more often than “periodically”.

And the winning “should” was…making the rounds to my family. My sister Karen was having chili and all the fixin’s at her house. That was my first stop, but this year was different. Enter Hagatha Lou. I decided to resurrect the character I used to play when I was an old bag lady entertainer in 2003. Hagatha had been missed and was well received upon arrival. I even performed a little bit of my old comic routine which filled the room with laughter. I miss those days of making people laugh with the antics of Hagatha Lou.

Next, I drove to my daughter’s place. Robin and her husband Ross were sitting around a little bonfire on their driveway with their usual spooky noises playing in the background. They both love Halloween, especially Robin since her birthday is just 3 days before. My grandson Tyler was sick in bed, so I slowly entered his room and revealed his silly grandma to him. I wish he could have enjoyed my bag lady spirit, but his spirit was depleted due to flu. Our visit felt connected, but was very short. I left him some candy to enjoy later and quietly stole away.

Last stop meant a long drive to the south of Smithton to my son’s house. Kyle and his wife Shaundra expected me at some point, so better late than never. I rang the doorbell instead of going through the garage like I usually do. Shaundra could see someone “strange” through the glass and was shocked when she opened the door and saw her mother-in-law Hagatha Lou. I shouted “trick or treat” with my crazy bag lady voice then made my entrance, encouraged by Shaundra's wavering welcome. My granddaughter Abbey saw me right away and broke out into her “oh, there’s my crazy grandma” smile. Then I greeted my ex-husband and his wife, her daughters and some friends of Kyle and Shaundra. I went downstairs to surprise Kyle and my grandson Andy, who acted unimpressed with my attire and missing teeth. Later, Abbey wanted me to sing “I like big butts” while shaking my padded bootie. I, being the entertainer that I am, complied and performed for everyone. Trust me, it’s a lot easier acting the fool behind a disguise.

That night my “should” turned out to be the “disguise” and hiding behind it was my CHOICE! A choice to be free, to be silly, and simply to have some fun.