Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2003. This was Mattie's second Halloween, and I remember picking out this costume together. Mattie did not like anything scratchy or tight. Certainly he did not want anything hanging or pulling on him, which is so typical of costumes. But together he and I found this cute sweat suit at Target. I think Mattie made the cutest pumpkin!
Quote of the day: I never met a pumpkin I did not like. ~ Mattie Brown
When I was out and about today, I ran into a woman who started talking to me. She wished me a happy Halloween and then asked if I was going out trick or treating tonight! She wasn't asking really about me, but was asking about my children and where I took them for Halloween. Given that I don't know this person well (obviously!), I did not really respond to her question. Other than I said.... I don't really like Halloween and fortunately where I live, no one trick or treats in my complex. This isn't a Vicki thing, it is just how it is in our complex. When Mattie was alive, we always drove to Alexandria, so he could trick or treat with friends in their neighborhoods.
However, after I told her all of this, I then said, that I have a Foundation which collects about 12,000 pounds of Post Halloween candy a year. Then I told her, I deliver this candy all around town for families to enjoy. But to me this whole dialogue speaks volumes. I don't live a typical or normal life. Having a child die from cancer has lasting and reverberating consequences.
Why do I collect candy? Why start a hospital snack cart back in 2011? The answer to both questions is simple. I decided to take on the creation and funding of a snack cart, because when Peter and I were in the hospital with Mattie, our support community visited daily with snacks, meals, and candy. Food EVERY DAY for OVER ONE YEAR!!! I believe my chocolate addiction occurred during that year of Mattie's cancer journey. I remember how wonderful it was to receive chocolate. It felt like winning the lottery, after all when you are living in a two by four of a hospital room, with no access to the outside world, receiving candy is such a gift. It makes you feel so special, and to me chocolate now symbolizes love.
I was very aware back then as I still am now, that not every family in the hospital has a support community like mine. Which is why I took the model our support community started and am doing it on a grander scale for families at both MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore. As of tomorrow the candy starts rolling in, and soon we will be spreading candy cheer all over the Washington, DC region.
I end tonight's positing with this photo I took in Georgetown today. When I tell you these Halloween decorations are over the top, I am not kidding. There is a fortune teller box in the right hand corner, statues, mummies, tombstones, cobwebs, and the list goes on. I bet this is a sight all lit up at night!!!
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