Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
The moment of truth had arrived. Or maybe even the moment of Truth, Justice and the American Way. “Missy, do you want to try this on?” Within moments, the brand-new red cape flowed around Missy’s shoulders. And down her back. And … well, almost to ankle-length. Being a 4’11” superhero has its challenges in a one-size-fits-all world. But the smile beaming from her face was more powerful than a locomotive. Yes, we had ourselves another winner. And with Trick-or-Treat Season coming on faster than a speeding bullet, it was a good thing, too. Normally, we’ve got Halloween attire down to a science here at Chez Rochat. As I mentioned in a recent column, Missy has orbited between three choices for the last decade or so: a certain lightning-scarred Boy Wizard, a tough-as-nails Space Princess with a cinnamon-bun wig and a Brave Hobbit with a ring on a chain around her neck. Everything’s ready to swing into action, waiting for one firmly pointing finger and a nod. But this time, we’ve got a new wrinkle. Over the last year or so, Missy has dived deeply into Superman comics. She’s steadily worn down the cover of her favorite paperback collection, which frequently gets waved in my direction with a “Look, look!” So when my wife Heather suggested that this might be the year for a superhero Halloween — well, it turned out that the Man of Steel is even powerful enough to break through long-established habits. It caught me off guard. But maybe it shouldn’t have. After all, for Missy, enjoying Halloween is something of a superpower, too. When Heather and I first moved in to take care of her in 2011, Missy wasn’t much into the season. Maybe it was too much stimulation for her developmental disability. Maybe it was just more creepy than fun. Whatever the reason, she usually came into October with little enthusiasm for costumes and none for trick-or-treating. I’m not sure what changed things. It might have been the chance to be the hero from her newly-discovered favorite bedtime story. It might have been just the simple lure of friends and chocolate. But for whatever reason, It Was On … and how. Soon, the advent of Oct. 31 held a magnetic pull, with Missy eagerly asking “Are we going?” and seeking out pieces of her costume as much as a week in advance. Just one choice for something different had changed the world for all of us. It still can. It’s not easy to change the routine and break expectations. Truth to tell, it’s easy to settle in a rut, even comfortable. Most of the time, there’s no conscious choice involved, just muscle memory. But when you stop and make yourself look around, things can happen. You start to become aware, to make your choices real again. It’s a little like walking through a neighborhood that you’ve driven by for years — when you take the time to see it, immerse yourself in it, you realize how much you’ve been missing from the world. Now, not every break in routine is a great one. We’ve all seen a lot of disruptions lately that have been upsetting, even infuriating. But even those can sometimes have a value in making us realize what’s important to us and how much we’ve taken for granted. And if we let that motivate us to protect what we care for … well, that can be a pretty thorough transformation in itself. No phone booth necessary. Meanwhile, I’ve got a superhero to attend to. It’s time to start heading up, up and away.
