Halloween Reflections, Dia de los Muertos, and Nearly Naked Rider
A Brief Ride with “Satellite Man”
Halloween week is always a setup for some interesting rides.
What was once a time for kids to dress up in costume and go door-to-door in their neighborhood yelling, “Trick-or-Treat,” has become a celebrated party time for adults.
Or, if you prefer, older kids.
“All the world’s a stage,” is the opening line from a monologue in Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It.
Most children and many adults enjoy dressing up and playing a part.
For many, the stage is “dressing the part,” as a job requirement.
Uniforms and varied outfits reinforce the organization’s role or identity in the marketplace.
Halloween offers ample opportunity for people of all ages to have fun stepping out of their daily routine to explore a new expression of who they are or a hint at their alter ego.
Someone or something different from their day-to-day life.
Now, choosing or designing a costume is one thing. However, thinking through the practical elements of the outfit is something people often overlook.
For example, let me tell you about a “brief” ride I experienced.
The costume was elaborate.
Colorful, detailed, and amazingly realistic.
Flashing lights of differing colors added a space-age feel to the piece of art.
A satellite.
I pulled up to the front of the house in a suburban neighborhood outside the city. The person was heading to a party in the city, and from my first impression, I would say the costume was a contender for the top prize.
As the rider approached my car, shining, flashing, and beeping in the cool of the evening, my mind did some quick math.
The costume size was too big to fit into the car’s back seat.
Despite this fact, the person tried with intense determination to put the square peg into the round hole.
“Dammit!” “Hey, can you push the front seat up any further?”
I got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side.
“No. The front seat is pushed up as far as it can go. It’s not the front seat. It’s the dimensions of your outfit. You’ve done a remarkable job of constructing your costume. Very cool, but too big for the car.”
“Dammit, Dammit, Dammit,” he shouted into the air.
“I don’t have time to call another ride. I’m running late for our office party.”
“Do you have any room in your trunk for the satellite?”
“I believe so, but…………”
Before I could complete my sentence, the person was removing his costume in the middle of the street.
Within minutes, the shimmering extension wings, and the satellite orb were resting on the pavement at the rear of my car.
To the left of the pile was a grown man, dressed only in a T-shirt and briefs looking at me with frantic wild eyes.
“Well?”
I immediately opened the trunk, and we loaded the pieces inside.
The trunk lid couldn’t close, so I gently tied down everything with bungee straps.
The nearly naked guy hopped into the car, and we headed downtown.
“Man, thanks for helping me out. The costume is so hot inside, I thought it was a good idea to wear light clothing underneath.”
“Dammit!”
“Glad we could figure this thing out. I turned up the heat. Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, all good.”
“Dammit!”
When we were several minutes from the party, the rider asked if we could stop a few blocks away so he could put his outfit back on.
It was a well-lit area, so I drove around the block and found a parking lot. I pulled into the far corner of the lot and opened the trunk.
He leaped from the backseat and quickly got back into his award-winning outfit.
I looked at him and said, “I’ve got to tell you, this was the most interesting ride of the day.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We both laughed.
I pointed up the street.
“Go have some fun and win that prize!”
I leaned back on my car as I watched the fully dressed “Satellite Man” fading into the night and moving towards his destination.
Dia de los Muertos
On November 1 and 2 of each year, on the heels of Halloween, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated.
It is a Mexican and Central American holiday.
Because the two events are so closely aligned, people often confuse the uniquely painted skeleton faces associated with Dia de los Muertos as a Halloween costume.
The colorful white skulls, blackened eyes, stitched mouths, and floral designs are common themes celebrating the holiday.
However, it is not a Mexican version of Halloween.
The woman was dressed in several layers of dark clothing, including ankle-high black boots and black stockings, which made the beautifully painted white bone face emerge brilliantly.
“Good evening,” I said as she entered the car.
“Hello,” was her soft response.
It was October 31st, a Halloween night.
I commented to her about how I loved her artful look.
Then I asked, “What inspired your artwork?”
“My family is from Mexico. I am celebrating Dia de los Muertos.”
She gently began to tell me that she and her family came to the United States from Mexico over 30 years ago. As a young girl, she learned the unique ways in which the relatives and generations before her were honored during the Dia de los Muertos festivals.
“We remember. We are part of those who came before. They are gone, and yet remain in us.”
“My face is not a Halloween mask. It is a symbol of respect.”
I thanked her for teaching me about the holiday, and how it differed from our celebration of Halloween.
She smiled through her stitched black lips.
The ride ended, and she departed, while simultaneously celebrating the departed.
I reflected on the ride and did a little research.
Both Halloween and Dia de los Muertos were inspired or derived from the early Christian holy days of All Saints Day on November 1st, and All Souls Day on November 2nd.
Halloween’s root word is “hallow,” which means “holy.”
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My “Rideshare by Robert” blog continues with new stories, poems, and musings based on my published book, “Rideshare by Robert: Every Ride’s a Short Story.”
The book, and the blog, are short stories about actual rides, observations, revelations, and reflections on the rideshare experience. I hope you find the writings informational, humorous, and filled with compassion for the human family.
My second “Rideshare by Robert” book will include selected blogs published in the Baltimore Post-Examiner.
So, climb in, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
Welcome to “Rideshare by Robert.”
A place where anything can happen and usually does.
Disclaimer
I have tried to provide anonymity to all individuals portrayed in my writings while maintaining the story’s integrity. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. And, in some cases, the not-so-innocent. I have substituted the characteristics of individuals in my writings to further my attempt to maintain anonymity. Conversations and other details are based on my best recollection and notes. Although I have spent time driving with many celebrities and public figures over the years, I’ve intentionally omitted their names in my writings. I’ve also modified actual locales along with other details such as when and where the rides occurred to maintain my objective of rider privacy and anonymity.
After a 35-year career in the Global Supply Chain Logistics industry, Maryland native Bob Reilly, is enjoying his second career as an author, freelancer, and singer-songwriter. His first published book, “Rideshare by Robert,” is a collection of journalistic short-story essays covering a 7-year, 25,000-ride life journey. The book is available everywhere online with signed copies available directly through Bob or at his ongoing “Meet the Author” events. You can also explore his last four studio albums and singles on all your popular music streaming platforms. Albums and singles include, “Work in Progress,” Unexpected Ways,” Perfect Love,” “The Journey Home,” and “I Thank God for You,” a song written and recorded in 2022 for his daughter’s wedding.He is the band leader and promoter for The Reilly Goulait Band. Bob and his wife have adopted three children from China, Korea, and the Philippines. Their passion for adoption also extends to their many pets, including their current Husky, Shiloh.