Ghost!!!

For the last couple of months, every time we've gone into Costco (one of those wholesaler warehouse jobbies), Alexander has rushed to the back of the store where the Halloween display and the six foot inflatable globe with a friendly waving ghost on top and inside are a black cat and pumpkin surrounded by a tornado-like flurry of flying bats.

Last night, however, when we got there, the Christmas merchandise had replaced the Halloween stuff. (I mean, Halloween is still a week and a half away, we might as well put out the Christmas stuff. Hell, why not get the freakin' Valentine's Day stuff out now, and, oh, while we're at it, Easter isn't all that far away at that point...)

Alexander was extremely anxious and worried as he ran back and forth down the "seasonal" aisles, concerned that the ghost was gone; and all the while yelling out "Ghost!" repeatedly. After several minutes of panic, he finally found the ghost near the produce section, and delightedly wouldn't leave his friend.

Despite the fact that I'm not a fan of giant inflatable yard ornaments, we just couldn't resist the acknowledgement of the joy that finding this giant ghost gave to Alexander. He kept yelling out "Ghost!" and then, as he noticed we were discussing potentially actually caving in and buying it, he sat down on the skid beside the ghost, kept looking at it and at us . . .

As of this morning, the ghost is sitting in our living room -- he spent a very exciting evening last night running back and forth between the kitchen and living room, laughing and yelling out "Ghost!" and then playing a game of saying goodnight to the ghost (and turning him off, he deflated and settled onto the floor) and then tapping him on a deflated shoulder saying "Wake up!" (and turning him on and watching him fill with air)

Mr. Ghost will make it out into the front garden within the next few days -- but for now, it's a delight to have him occupy the living room and watching Alexander take such delight in his new friend.