Halloween & Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Halloween isn't my obsession at all.  I've never been one for dressing up as something other than what I am: the most awesome Tia.  However, Larry is totally smitten with Halloween and has been for a least 20 years. And for those 20 years I always wondered why he is so taken with this day.  I just didn't understand, until today.  At least I think I do.

Larry was very close to his father, to whom he looked up to in many ways. Larry tells stories of the many activities his dad and his brothers did together.  When I met Larry Sr., he put on a pretty awesome Halloween display.  It was legendary in their little town.  A coffin, hanging dead people and generally scary stuff.  This was 20 years ago when decorating for Halloween consisted  of carving pumpkins!

Larry Sr. passed away quite a few years ago and I think that's when Larry picked up the torch. Some years he hasn't been able to decorate due to deployments or being out of the county.  Even when we were in Eltmann, Germany, Larry tried to put on a little display, to which he was rewarded with 4 trick-or-treaters. Last year, Larry once again put on a good display followed by an even better one this year. 

Again and again I asked why does he spend so much time on something that really has no meaning. I just couldn't grasp why he wanted to spend a week setting up the display for the enjoyment of people that we don't even know.  Then tonight as we dressed up and he handed out goody bags to the approximately 100 kids that came by, I realized the reason.  It makes me teary eyed just thinking about it.  On the eve of Dia de Muertos, I know the answer.  This Halloween display is a celebration of his father.  It is a way that Larry can honor what his dad meant to him and in this way he shares this remembrance with everyone who comes by to enjoy his display.