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Page 32 October 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Party Like It’s 1993
by Valerie Nusbaum
The year was 1993. The air inside the building to get it ready. Mom looked into her crystal ball
was turning cooler and the leaves We didn’t realize that we’d have to and told their futures. Everyone had
were changing from green to vivid clean the entire building, including a rosy future according to Mom,
shades of orange, yellow, and red. bathrooms, before we could put mostly because the crystal ball was a
Apples were ripe for picking, and up our decorations. Luckily, we’d snowglobe with a big rose inside it,
the holidays were just around the gotten there earlier than planned but that’s neither here nor there. I
corner. We were happy to pull out and we were young, energetic, and was waiting inside the storage area,
our sweaters. enthused. My, how things have and I managed to make a few people
I remember it well. The month changed in 25 years. shriek.
was October, and I was dating a We set up tables and covered Mary came as The Great
strapping young man named Randy. them with cloths and centerpieces. Pumpkin, Bill was the Lone Ranger,
We were excited to discover that Electric candles and strings of lights and Linda was a witch. Pat was
we both loved Halloween, so we were hung everywhere, along with a witch, too, and so was Vicki.
decided to throw a party. Not just spider webs and ghostly masks. We We had a plethora of black hats
a regular party. We were hosting made a bunch of life-size scarecrows that night. Anita was a football
a costumed murder mystery party and monsters by stuffing newspapers player, Johnny was a nerd, Gail
for our friends and families. What into clothes and attaching masks to was a leopard, and Emma was a
could go wrong? balloon faces. They looked pretty cat. Cindy showed up wearing a
We spent the entire month darned scary, if I do say so myself. trench coat, and we thought she
planning the murder and making We had eerie music and haunted was a spy until she opened her coat
decorations. Food was easy. We’d house sounds, strobe lights, and and we saw that she was wearing
have orange punch and Halloween- black lights, along with furry, slimy big, rubber body parts in the
themed sandwiches (pimento cheese creepy-crawly things scattered all appropriate places. They were BIG
on pumpernickel bread, cut into around. We set up a graveyard parts in case you didn’t catch that
the shape of bats; cream cheese on the stage for people to wander part. I can’t remember who else
on white bread, cut into ghost through. I can’t say this often was there that night. People were
shapes; mini pizzas decorated with enough: It was a big building. wearing costumes and I didn’t see
pepperoni Jack o’lantern faces; and I ran home to clean up and all their faces. That’s my story and
all manner of gory, bloody treats). change into my costume. Aunt I’m sticking to it. I asked Randy
I rented the recreation center in Shirley had loaned me her Elvira, and he can’t remember either. It
the park. It was a big building so Mistress of the Dark wig, and I was was a long time ago.
we had a LOT to do. My friend, wearing ghoul makeup and a white I do remember that we opted
Roxann, helped me shred paper to flowing gown and cape—and fangs, not to bob for apples. Randy had
fill orange plastic “pumpkin” bags of course. Randy was a headless a better idea. He hung powdered-
and to fill the giant black spider. man. We’d covered his head with a sugar donuts on strings and had the
Randy picked up bales of straw and cardboard box, leaving breathing guests put their hands behind their
corn shocks from the farms around room, naturally, and covered the backs and eat the donuts while he
Walkersville. Mom and Mary baked whole thing with a black robe. He jiggled the string. Randy thought
cupcakes and made candy. We was carrying his “head” under his the donuts would be less messy
planned our costumes and worried arm. The head didn’t look at all than apples in a tub of water. He
over the guest list. happy. Randy wasn’t happy either was wrong. Cindy won the contest
Party day arrived. Randy and I because the box kept falling off his and the rest of the donuts as her
loaded his Bronco and my car and shoulders. prize. Great big carpenter ants
headed off to the park. I had already My dad was wearing a glow- had found their way into the box.
picked up the key, so we went in-the-dark “Scream” mask and Luckily, Cindy didn’t see that and
black robe, and we’d stationed him we were able to get rid of it without
outside the building to usher guests her finding out.
inside with a flashlight. Lauren was Suddenly, there was a scream
ESP Elower-Sicilia our tour guide, and she welcomed and a shout. Someone had been
Productions people to the party and guided murdered! Honestly, it took our
Serving the of Dance & Music them on their tour of the building. crew two hours to solve a simple
Community Lauren was either Peter Pan or murder because they all wanted to
Since 1970
Tap Ballet Jazz Hip Hop Robin Hood. I’ve never figured eat and drink. My dad (the “body”)
out which. During the tour, Randy took a nap while he lay on the floor.
Pre-School Creative was stationed in one hallway in his The guy who was supposed to play
Lyrical headless costume, and Harry was the part of the murderer hadn’t
Acrobatics in the other hallway. Harry was shown up and the fill-in forgot his
Musical Theater covered in blood and had a knife lines. Vicki knocked the head off
Contemporary
sticking out of him. Roxann was a one of the witches. I think it was
one of the fake ones. A good time
witch, inviting people to stick their
Ages 3 to Adult
hands in her cauldron. Mind you, was had by all, or most. I don’t
this was all done in the near-dark. know. I can’t remember.
For More Information
My mother was a gypsy fortune Wishing you a happy and
301-271-7458
www.ESPdance.com teller, and as guests passed her table, memorable Halloween.
Home of the National Award Winning ESP Performing Company
