This will be short and sweet.

I don’t know if it was all the ghouls, goblins and witches who came to my door last night seeking sweet treats, but something inspired me to play dress up last night.

Maybe it was that I had been feeling a little melancholy all day and seeing all the children running through the street giggling and having fun in their costumes got me to thinking about my youth and how much I always loved Halloween. And, that the best part, for me, was not door to door candy grabbing, but the beginning; the dressing up. I always loved coming up with a costume, creating and executing it.

I remember dressing up as a clown, using a rope mop top for hair held on with one of my dad’s old hats, then pulling on some baggy pants held up with one of dad’s belts, a baggy shirt and sneakers. I painted my face, lipstick on my nose and cheeks. I used mom’s eyebrow pencil to draw a star around one eye and topped it all off with wet baby powder all over my face.

So after I’d dispensed of the last of the chocolates that I’d bought for the scary little trick-or-treaters, I went to my room to play a little dress-up of my own. It's one of my favorite things.

Jazz blaring from the music section of On Demand on the television, I went to my closet and started pulling out clothing that I haven’t worn in a while. I dug up a pair of jeans I used to love and pulled them on. I can’t believe they actually still fit; pretty darn good too if I may say so myself. That was a pick me up right there. I went through my draws looking for the right shirt. I tried on a bunch switching them out when they weren’t just right and tossing them on the bed. I slipped into a pair of pumps and danced in the mirror for a while.

Then I went back in the closet and found a dress, a skirt and blouse. I belted it and unbelted it. Switch out different earrings and bracelets. I tried it with a jacket. I put my hair up then braided it into a French braid. Each time I changed the style I pranced in the mirror. I was like a little girl again, having a great time all alone in my bedroom; Just me and my closet, David Sanborn, Noel Pointer and Pat Metheny for melodic company.

I really started getting into it too. I even started pulling out some of my old coats — the fur one, the old army trench coat, and oh my gosh, I found my green scarf I’d been looking for, for about a year. I even put on makeup, playing with eye shadows and blushes, then took it all off. I was already in the bathroom so why not, I filled the tub with hot water and bubbles for a long soak.

I forgot that the day had been long, that traffic had been particularly aggravating- what with the chiefs traffic and all. I thought about how sometimes we moms forget that we are just big girls who still like to do those girly things. We forget about those things that we deny ourselves because we have so many responsibilities and things to worry about; children to feed and dress and remind, houses to keep clean, bills to pay and jobs to get to and groceries to buy.

For a few hours last night I allowed myself to slip back to when I didn’t have the weight of my family to bear. I played a little. It was great. I didn’t even worry about my son upstairs. Earlier I had yelled up to him to finish his homework, the dishes and don’t forget to shower before bed.

I climbed out of the tub slipped in to my night clothes and wrapped up in my soft plush rope. In a wonderful daze I headed for the bed. That’s when I noticed the bed was piled full of clothes that needed to be re-hung.

Back to reality right? Nope. I didn’t want to spoil the moment. So channeling that teenage girl I used to be, I just pushed it all to one side and slid under the covers. Then I remembered I had a post to write. Oh well it was all good while it lasted.

Actually, it was great. I recommend it. Sometimes we moms just gotta let go, be silly, its good for soul. It was for mine. I'll probably sleep good tonight. And tomorrow I expect to smile.