Gypsies, tramps and thieves (because that song has been stuck in my head all day)

Every year of my childhood, my grandmother’s sister Leona, who was known to me as Aunt Neenee (pronounced Ain’t Knee Knee), threw a family Halloween party in her small, warm house out in the country. Every year, my grandmother made matching costumes for the two of us and we attended this party.What I most remember is the laughter and the music. I also have a particularly fantastic memory of Aunt Neenee dressed as Miss Piggy. Aunt Neenee had one of the sweetest most brightly shining hearts of any person I have ever known and she seemed to shine the brightest at her parties.

I believe, in fact, that it is from this arm of my family that I inherited both my love of dressing up for Halloween and my love of holiday celebrations. 

Naoma, Gladys (Too-Too), Evelyn (Auntie), Marg, Leona (Aunt NeeNee)

Most of the photographs of me and TooToo (my grandmother) dressed up for the parties have been lost, but I remember our costumes. We were hobos*, witches*, Raggedy Annes, rabbits. We were awesome.

Today, we relived our glory when my Great Aunt Naoma decided to host a family Halloween party. Originally, she planned to have it on the land she shares with her husband (a property she jokingly calls The Ponderosa), but when it looked like rain or cold might make an appearance, she moved it to the place we call The Big House.

The Big House came into my family when my grandmother’s sister Evelyn

known to me as Auntie (pronounced Aintee) married late-ish in life. The house was her husband’s. When he died, the house and its contents went to her. When she died, it went to Aunt Naoma.

It was in this house that I sometimes spent sick days. Auntie, in addition to being stunningly beautiful, was a natural nurturer. She made me ginger ale and we watched The Trouble With Angels. I’ve always thought of her house sort of like a museum to grace. We generally have our family Christmas gatherings there and it is there we meet for fried chicken and cake after funerals. This weekend, however, the house was the location of the Halloween shindig where my grandmother and I once again dressed alike, this time as gypsies*.

You may recall that I dressed as a gypsy earlier in my Halloween career.

Halloween 1975

I love my family and I loved seeing everybody today.

I was particularly happy that my sister in law, Chloe, and my nieces went with me today. (And that they also dressed as gypsies). These parties were such an important part of my childhood, it's so special to me to see the next generation enjoying them, too.

Both Auntie and Aunt Neenee are on the other side now. So are many other members of the family, but the parties don’t stop. The parties will never stop. And the spirits of those who have gone on are always around. Auntie is always in her house when the family gathers there and I know Aunt Neenee was dressed up with us this afternoon.

*I know this is not culturally sensitive. From the bottom of my heart, I mean no disrespect to actual witches, gypsies or homeless people. Okay – the hobo thing, that was flat-out wrong of us, but we didn’t know better at the time. Witches and gypsies, I dress as you out of respect (and yes, witches, I know that you don’t normally wear pointy hats, I just really like the pointy hats.) I’d also like to point out that the only part of my gypsy costume that was actually a costume was the wig. Everything else was just straight out of my closet.

Comments

[Melissa J. Lee]

This is a wonderful story. We don't have similar Halloween traditions in my family, but it makes me wish that we did. However, I have a toddler at home and there's no time like the present to start a new one, right? Thanks for the inspiration.

[Amy from Texas]

What a wonderful party! Great photos too. You are lucky to have such a fun family.

[Margot Potter]

Wow! What a cool family! It's like something from a Frank Capra film. I wish we had traditions like this...perhaps I need to start them!

Thank you so much for sharing this story and these wonderful pics.

Cheers,
Madge

[Kiki]

What a wonderful story! I love that you and your grandmother dressed alike

[Michelle]

Great photos!