Halloween brings out the best in everyone, at
least in Uphams Corner. With permission for participants to dress
in unique and eye-catching form, the whole person transforms with the
magic of makeup, costume, oversized glasses, outlandish hats, grownup
shoes for little girls and masks that behead the owner and
replace it with that of a monster, wolf, ghost or ghoul.
Families, who might ordinarily be split apart, each person absorbed in
private activity, are joyfully joined in a common cause - dressing up,
pretending, having fun, laughing, smiling and trading enthusiastic
compliments.
Best of all, the trick is banished and the treat brings more
candy to your jack-o-lantern than you would think to eat in a year (at
least until next year).
To the requests of "May I take your picture?," the usual response is
negative. "Just who are you and what do you want?" is the
unspoken question worn on their faces. On Halloween, the mood and
the openness change dramatically. Barely a handful of people
said "no" while almost everyone can't wait for the photos to show up on
the website.
Over 50 photos on two pages depict the people of Uphams Corner -
many of them representing extended families. A couple photos are from Downtown
Crossing. Otherwise they are
exclusively from Dudley Street, both sides of the tracks, many of
the people heading into / out of the Kroc Center. A day of festivities, to
ignore the ordinary people passing by was unthinkable, so they are included as well.
Halloween brings out the best in Uphams Corner:
- Young princesses in waiting
- Ballerinas
- Carriages pushed by moms and who was having more fun?
- Youth proud of the younger siblings
- Shy youth - demure and graceful
- Families excited to pose for the camera
Altogether
we get a glimpse of life here, steeped in festivities, in Uphams Corner.
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