Something out of nothing

One October afternoon when I was four, the older neighbor kids came ringing our doorbell with great excitement. My mom and I answered the door, and they could hardly contain themselves as they told us a Halloween parade would be starting in the neighborhood in just a few minutes — and anyone could participate! All you had to do was wear a costume.

I immediately burst into tears. I wanted to be in the parade, but I didn’t have a costume. My mom knelt down to meet me at eye level, wiped my face and said, “I’m sure we can find something for you to wear!”

Within minutes, she had put me in one of my old dresses, tied one of her aprons around my waist, slipped a pair of striped knee-high socks onto my feet and pulled my hair into pigtails. With some quick makeup, I was transformed into the cutest little rag doll you ever did see.

“There, now!” my mom said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “Look at us, making something out of nothing!”

I don’t remember being in the parade, but I do remember the amazement I felt at the magic I had just witnessed. That was the first of many times we would make “something out of nothing” throughout my childhood — and, really, my entire life.

Halloween is the easiest example. Every year, we made my costume out of things we found around the house. A long piece of cleverly-tucked silver fabric became a tunic for my Statue of Liberty costume. A headband and some painted felt became a pair of cow’s ears. Two pairs of different-colored tights, each with one leg cut off and swapped with the other, made the perfect bottom half for a court jester.

“Something out of nothing” became our family motto. All it took was a little creativity, some thinking outside the box and a willingness to go out on a limb and try something a little crazy.

Part of it was out of necessity — we didn’t have a lot of money to spare on things like costumes. But part of it was the fun of rising to the challenge, using our imaginations and creating something uniquely our own.

Of all the life lessons my mom has taught me, “something out of nothing” has been one of the most widely applicable.

It’s helped me furnish my first apartment on a budget, decorate for events at schools and businesses, whip up clever meals for my family on the fly  and – the best part -- create some of my favorite memories with my daughters. From class projects to dress-up days, I’ve loved passing that “something out of nothing” mentality on to my own girls, encouraging them to think creatively and find solutions with whatever they have on hand.

We still apply this philosophy to Halloween, rarely buying anything for our costumes. And I love that anyone can do it. That’s why we have just one rule for trick-or-treaters at our house on Halloween night: You must wear a costume.

We don’t care how old you are — 3 or 53 — but you must wear something that resembles a costume. A kitchen towel pinned to your shoulders and a pot lid for a shield? You’re a superhero! A Hawaiian shirt and a camera around your neck? Hello, tourist! An old apron and striped socks? Instant rag doll.

I know people have varying opinions about Halloween and what the “rules” should be. For my family, it’s a time for pretending, make-believe and a little light-hearted fun. And the more people who join in, the more fun we all have.

I hope you’ll participate, either by giving out candy to those who knock on your door or by spreading some joy with an inspired costume idea.

And if you don’t have a costume? Don’t worry!

There’s still time to make something out of nothing.