I have always hated Halloween, something about the pretense maybe, I’m not sure. Just an extension of our superficial culture. We wear masks most of the time anyway, afraid someone will find out we are human and frail. This year, I attended my first Vashon Halloween. I skipped it my first year here because, like I said, I hate Halloween, but this year I ventured out into the street. It was raining and cold, so I didn’t think much would be happening anyway. To my surprise, hundreds of people filled the empty roadway through town.

One restaurant had tables in the street where folks were dining, unprotected, in the rain, not even trying to keep dry.

In the center of town, a band was belting out songs. I couldn’t help myself. My 80-year-old body actually staggered around as best it could. And I didn’t feel embarrassed. I felt no judgment, only total acceptance.

Children were everywhere. All were in creative costumes. Some were so cute I often had to laugh out loud. Even the dogs were well dressed. Snapdragon advertised to “Dress as your favorite ruler, dictator, tyrant or general oppressor of the world!” The range of costumes showed the critical awareness of world history among the people of Vashon.

Folks, this is heaven. A little island of sanity in a sea of hatred, suffering and violence.

— Lawrence Dean