“I want to be the Grim Weeper”

For Halloween this year my 8-year-old grandson claims he wants to be the Grim Weeper. The Grim Weeper? Does that mean that we weep what we sow? Or as we sow, so shall we weep? And will it be grim? Actually, I think those questions have merit for a meaningful philosophical discussion, but some other time. The point is, Halloween is nearing and our little ones are going to be all decked out as scary goblins, ghosts, pumpkins, pirates or princesses - which reminds me of a particularly frightful Halloween for me.

My son was 11-years-old when he and his friends decided to dress up as girls for Halloween. A couple of boys went as a cheerleaders, complete with pom poms and hair ribbons. My son chose to put on a wig and dress up as his mother, which is me. He put on a blonde wig, make-up, one of my skirts and a blouse. I took a picture of all of the boys sitting in my living room and thought they acted and looked hysterical. That is not the scary part…that came later.

After I got the pictures developed, I took them over to my mother-in-law’s house to show the family how cute the boys were dressed up. (Now comes the scary part!) My husband’s grandmother took one look at the picture with my son in it and said. “Mary, you look so beautiful! This is the best picture of you that I have ever seen!”

Thank you, Grandma. I guess it is true - as we sow, so shall we weep. (And yes…it IS grim!)