¡Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

Halloween is around the corner. Everywhere I turn people are talking about the East Village parade, what clubs and bars will be hopping, their roommate's sister's house party, but most importantly what it is they're going to be this year. Because since before we could walk, someone was putting us in a pumpkin costume or a clown suit (trust me, I have proof) and telling us how cute we looked dressed up as not ourselves. Halloween is when it's a-OK to don the fishnet thigh-hi's, the giant diaper or be the violent superhero your mother forbid years ago. It's a day to be someone whom you'd never get to be in "real" life. Different name, different face, different persona.

How exciting.

24 hours from now I'll be on a plane which has just left Laguardia en route to Mazatlan, Mexico. This is less of a vacation and more of a necessity for myself. There won't be any rabbit ears or colored wigs packed in my suitcase, and I don't plan on ingesting a single fun sized candy bar. Just like the last four, I'll vow to attend the parade next Halloween. Next year. It's not as though I don't enjoy dressing up. Playing a part, being someone else. It's not as though I don't already own all the makings for at least four costumes (last year I got to be a [sexy] bunny, a [sexy] witch, a [sexy] cowgirl AND a [sexy] nurse - go me). Nevertheless, this Halloween I'll get to just be 'me'. And it's almost a relief. Actually, it just is.

Sometimes it can be really confusing to remember who that person is. That I like to read books and figure out Sudoku puzzles. I like to spend hours on allrecipes.com and plan out the perfect multi course meal. I'd rather walk than take a cab, and I can imitate Blue from Blue's Clues perfectly. Every now and then I'm even capable of writing something worth reading. Those are all the 'me' things I forget at times. Cause there's nothing too intriguing about my fastest puzzle time (4:07...told you) and hearing about carrot fritters won't make your heart race. Sometimes it's that much easier to play dress up and "let's pretend" 365 days out of the year, rather than just one. So I figure as a change of pace, this Halloween I'll just be 'me'. 'Me' in Mexico, sipping an alcoholic beverage whilst tanning by the pool, but it's a start, right?

Next year though, I swear I'm going to make it to that damn parade!