Princess Leia

Growing up, we never had typical halloween costumes. Maybe because we were a hippy family who stood out from the pack anyway. No costumes required. But I was a child of the Seventies and had seen Star Wars.  So, I donned my coolest paisley sundress, threw on my tennies, gave myself a pulled-up hair-do, and became Princess Leia.

And boy oh boy, did we ever look forward to trick or treating! Our mom didn't often allow sugar or cocoa in our home, it was honey and carob for us. So, Halloween was a very big deal. One weekend, when we were in the process of moving from our rickety little house on the river to our new property in the mountains, my siblings and I went to stay with Little Larry. Little Larry was one of a huge group of characters who were friends with our parents, and it was the hippy way to have some sort of a different name. Names like Mangey Mountain Mike, Ishanovi, Snake, Cat, and my best friend who I grew up with, Shotgunn. Anyway, it was just before Halloween, and after picking us up, Little Larry announced that he was taking us to Thrifty's to get a bag of candy each. EACH! After a huge amount of indecision, my brother chose Hersheys, my sister Butterfinger, and I chose Starbursts. And we immediately set in on devouring our big bags.

Little Larry lived in a tiny little travel trailer on our property, with a little propane tank that, turns out, had a leak. So, we spent the night gorging on candy and breathing propane-filled air. When our parents came to pick us up, we were all incredibly sick. "It's the refined sugar!" my mom exclaimed in despair and we believed her. That stuff is terrible, I thought and swore off Starbursts forever.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Comments

[Jennifer]

What a sweet story, I can see why it turned you off of Starbursts, what a horrible memory attached to being that sick.

[Jessica]

I grew up on honey and carob too! While I still prefer honey to sugar I have definitely scratched carob from my diet. There is just no substitute for real chocolate!

[bettyann]

love your story..I think I am sworn off starbursts too.lol

[Holly]

My 8 year old is going as Princess Leia this year - she too is pulling together a costume from her closet - I love that she does not think you have to buy a costume like so many kids do - she gets to be her creative self!

And starbursts aren't that great anyway, so no major loss there!

[Diane ~ The Library Lady]

Cute story. Now...did you ever eat Starburst again? Man! I'd be upset if that had been chocolate and I had to swear off of it. Thank goodness it was only Starburst.

Diane
The Library Lady
"Take surprise and delight in the little things"

[Diane ~ The Library Lady]

Oh Yeah..Forgot to say...I can't get over how you still look like your kid you. Cute!!

Diane
The Library Lady
"Take surprise and delight in the little things"

[Debbie Addie]

Your story of your life is so interesting, is there a book? I hope so.....

[~mary~]

You have had such an interesting life! Did you have a nickname too?

I recently had my own 70's Halloween flash back - Bought some Frakenberry & Count Chocula cereals the other day! I remember having to beg and and beg and beg to get them as a kid.

[Jennifer]

Great story! I love homemade costumes, they are the best. Did you EVER eat another Starburst?

[linda/lulu]

Making a child eat Carob is Child abuse! : ) OX

[laurie magpie ethel]

Your childhood is so interesting...such a unique upbringing. So, I am guessing Starbursts aren't the first candy you grab in the candy aisle anymore are they? Happy Halloween!

[jenn]

I love your stories!! And always appreciate you sharing.

[kellie]

That is the cutest story ever! I've been wanting to mod-podge starburst wrappers all over an old pair of flats lately, but I was lacking motivation......until now! Thanks!

[Julie Harward]

Hoe very interesting...the pages that make up a life. Thanks for sharing that...my parents were not hippies but we were poor farmers. Never any money for anything...everything came from hand outs or the good will store all the way up through high school.At times I felt bad about that but as I look back on it now..it's where my strength comes from and being a little different from the crowd was a good thing! You are awesome! :D

[kasey]

you are definatley the prettiest princess leah i've ever seen.
xo

[jeanne]

Your stories are truly the BEST!!!! I hope you write your life's story...so touching and funny. You really were blessed with a colorful upbringing. Your jello story still makes me smile.

[April]

I had those same shoes! Too funny!

[aimee]

i just love reading stories from your childhood. i so think you need to write a book! when i was little i had my tonsils taken out. my mom only gave me cherry coke to drink and to this day i can't stand cherry coke, cherry pepsi or any knock off brand. YUCK! i know how you feel.
blessings,
aimee

[Jen@thecottagenest]

So funny! And my Emma just wrote a story for school about being a strawberry starburst! I love to hear stories about how you grew up, Serena.

[Alice]

What a hoot! I love the stories from your childhood (and secretly want to live a gypsy life). I agree that you need to write a book!

Thanks so much for sharing your life with us!

[Ryan]

GREAT story! Dieing to hear your nickname...Glad you survived the propane & the Starburst :o)

[Monica]

That is hilarious!

[babi Maňasová]

It is a very lovely story, I was reading it with a dictionary in my hand and so I understand all. You must have an interesting childhood.

[Funky Junk Sisters]

Wow, life was certainly interesting for you! Love your stories, keep em coming!

Linda & Dixie
The Funky Junk Sisters
http://www.funkyjunksisters.blogspot.com

[Kris Grover]

Oh my goodness, the stories you must have to tell!!!!!
: ) Happy Halloween!

[Stacy Morgan]

Thank you so much for your stories of growing up. They hit such a cord with me. Although I didn't grow up in a wagon or without a washer or dryer,etc. We did almost end up in the Canadian woods with a small community of Russians. We traveled in an old school bus. I am glad to here that there is someone else out there who had different experiences too!
Stacy M.

[Karen]

The first thing that caught my eye was the paisley dress. I LOVE paisley anything. Also, I love he stories of your childhood. I agree with the others who think you should write a book. I grew up in the 60's and 70's in what I would call a non-hippie lifestyle on a MN farm. Now in my adult life I still live on a farm and work right along side my husband in our farm business. I love the rural way of life so I consider myself a "farm chick".

[deb]

This is just a hoot! Thanks for the sharing another great story... I *love* these so much!! :)

Happy Halloween! (may it be starburst free)

[The Vintage Rabbit]

Love the story... I grew up on Honey and Carob too...in fact I have carob powder in my pantry right now!!!

love hearing about your fun stories Serena!!

smiles,
Joy~

[Rachel]

hahaha I was Princess Lea too... my most beloved costume ever! Only mine, was a white bedsheet with a belt around it! Good times.

[JenR]

I also wore teh cinnamon buns on my head one year.. aaahh.. the "70s. and I always love a little propane with my candy... it makes it taste so much better than natural gas... Thanks for sharing!! Great story!

[elyse]

this was such a great read. someday maybe you'll write a book about your adventures growing up. sign me up for an advance copy. :)

you were a stunning princess leia. one year i attempted a martian costume myself by sort-of covering a box with tin foil, covering my face with pale green eye shadow and wearing an old sequin dress under the box. oy!

happiest halloween!

xo

[Darlie]

I was a child of the 60's but no hippies in our English bread family. It was tea with one cube of sugar and I never heard of carob. Trick or Treat was like a crazed mob at a rock festival in our dense suburban neighborhood. Mom and dad were careful and confiscated our pillage~handing it out in very small increments throughout the oncoming months. All in all the rations held us over until Christmas where a new but smaller supplyof sugar was stuffed in our stockings. What great memories.
smiLes
DarLie
aka
LiBBy BuTTons

[kristen]

truly fascinating! love the real life stories . . .

[Margo]

You had an amazing childhood. Love your interpretation of Princess Leia.
Margo aka Robolady

[chinese herbs impotence]

Muchos Gracias for your post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.

[[email protected]]

Wow, awesome. I knew all these characters, my stepdad is Ishinavi. I was Bird in those days, was part of this life before we moved to Montana. I remember you, Serena, you were little. Kian who went by Bear, your brother was my best friend. This is real cool finding all this stuff lately and reuniting with you all.

[[email protected]]

RIP Little Larry. He moved to Montana around when we did, I knew him real well. He still called me Bird.