[The first of our two scheduled scary days in the US. The second is likely to be even scarier. Watch this space.]
One potential benefit that I saw about making a trip to Richmond, Virginia, at this time of year was that I’d be avoiding one of my greatest hates, Halloween. This trip has made me refine my definition in that it isn’t actually Halloween that I hate – I give Halloween absolutely no thought at all – but it’s that dreadful import from America of Trick or Treat.
[A few years ago I was heartened to see that Spain is putting up staunch resistance to the importation of an American festival, too, when they have traditional festivals of their own.]
I was a little surprised, therefore, when we were told that there was to be a Halloween party in this large retirement community and that we were expected to attend. Attending was one thing but we were to dress up, along with everyone else. The only children here are those that are 60+.
We are living as guests in a large complex, pretty much a village in itself, run by Erickson Senior Living. It really is an impressively organized gated community with security and other staff, all of whom appear to enjoy their work. There are several interlinked blocks, some still being built, with several restaurants, a bar, and recreational areas. Such a place could quite easily feel institutionalized but happily it doesn’t. Many of the residents, which we refer to tongue-in-cheek as inmates, seem to eat in the restaurants almost every day. The apartments all have well equipped kitchens but I get the feeling that many of these are hardly ever used. We have eaten in a few of the restaurants several times and the food is excellent.
The afternoon began with a fancy-dress staff parade to the accompaniment of music. The inmates, also mostly in fancy dress, stood around applauding. Prizes in a few categories were awarded for the staff costumes.
For my sins, my wardrobe lady dressed me in medical scrubs as a surgeon. My neck was adorned with a toy stethoscope for added authenticity. Most people were also wearing masks – I tried a batman mask but it both seemed less than appropriate and felt uncomfortable, being made for a child, so I discarded that.
Later in the afternoon, many inmates gathered inside for a bit of costumed dancing. I was having a hard time believing what I was seeing. More prizes for costumes were awarded in more categories.
My surgeon outfit must have been a success because I was asked, “when are you operating”, all by ladies, on several occasions. I told them, “whenever you are ready” and advised them to mark the bits they’d like removed, lest they lost anything they actually still needed. I could have made quite a bit of money.
Eventually sanity was restored.
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