This little dude entered our household ten years ago. Five years ago, his life changed a bit as he lost his voice. Now to be honest, he did not produce a bat sound…or a particularly scary sound at that. It was more of a “whirr.” Nonetheless, when we purchased him to add to our internal Halloween decorations, when squeezed he produced a mighty, hearty “whirr.”
We still put him out each Halloween, and when I look at him, I will sometimes find myself mumbling that “whirr” sound to myself. It serves as a reminder even if a part of something (of us!) no longer functions as originally designed, it (we!) still has (have!) great value.
I have recently read a few things online which make me think his voice box could be successfully brought back to life, but he already provides for us just by hanging out and being a bat. I am somewhat hesitant to start busting his seams open and performing open bat surgery just to hear a sound I am already making myself.
I think sometimes in our pursuit of perfectionism we can get too zealous and not leave well enough alone. For example, when you go to trim your eyebrows to perfection and think maybe the right side needs just a little more off…wait, back to the left side to even it up…wait…what the hell did I just do to my eyebrows?
Or, when your wife decides the holly bushes need a trim and she sets out to just take a “little” off. These two look good…let me even them up with those over here…oh, maybe a little less back here now…oops…honey?
(On a side-note, I find it amusing my wife has no issue whatsoever with the high-pitched screaming of the hedge trimmer, or the relentless chugging of the snow blower. She loves using those power tools. Yet, she rails against the relatively low sound the mini-vacuum makes. I have formed an opinion she does not like vacuuming. In any case, her passion for power tools keeps me honest…and volunteering to do the vacuuming myself…)
Bat-dude will continue to take his place each Halloween, having successfully pivoted to a “new” life. And…on Halloween night he will stand in attendance as trick-or-treaters visit our home. We usually get 80-100 kids each year. A lot of them travel with adults, and it is nice to see families still supporting a tradition I have always held dear to my heart. Traditions seem to be so much harder to maintain today. I would like to think opening our door on Halloween gives voice to those who want to see this tradition of the holiday continue, but can no longer participate themselves.
Aside from making it a special evening for the kids, it is a chance for all of us who wave hello at a distance 364 days of the year to interact a bit more closely, if only for a few moments. Most households have their outdoor lights on and doors open, and it is nice people who might disagree on other subjects (especially these days) find common ground in trying to make Halloween special for our youth…and hopefully for ourselves as well.
Whether it be watching a scary movie, noshing on some candy, participating in a costume party, waiting on the Great Pumpkin, or just enjoying the decorations…have a safe and Happy Halloween.
Pictures Courtesy IMDb/Wikipedia
haha! I love that you make that ‘whirr’ sound to yourself as you pass by this little dude. He is adorable! My street is older folks, or in my case, neighbors out of town so it is pretty dark and empty on Halloween. Eighty to one hundred kids…!!! Yowie. On a good night, we never had that many kids. I do miss that, though. That and having leftover chocolate bars that you can absolutley not let go to waste! Happy Halloween, Bruce! And to your little buddy, too. Whirr, whirr! 🦇
Lois, Bat-dude and I hope you have a Happy one as well. We shall make sure any leftover candy is “disposed” of properly!🦇
Well Mr Bat is a goofy guy, and I say that in the most kindly way Bruce. I’m sure he’s happy to make whatever sound he can since you have kept him around all these years. 80-100 kids seems like a lot! I know in the past we’ve had parents from who knows where drive their kids in to our old neighborhood. Car after car lined the street and they often made it unsafe for the kids who lived in the neighborhood to get around without getting run over. I think my Halloween fun has been over for some years. Living in an apartment for so long no one ever came and the small town I was in always opened the main street businesses for the kids to get candy.
Deb, I am sure the word “gets out” about our street and makes it more popular to a few outsiders, but fortunately everyone is pretty much on foot and traffic is at a minimum…a good thing.
Whirr Happy Whirr Halloween Whirr….
Geoff, back at ya my friend. Whirr on!
Bat-dude looks a little like me after I try to trim my eyebrows…
Mark, I may never trim my eyebrows again without thinking of that…✂️
I have acquired a little witch and been given a cuddly pumpkin this year to add to my collection. I am impressed with how many children you get to eat… I mean treat. I stay switched on till next door children arrive, I am their last call and they are out for hours, or so it seems. When they were little their parents delivered healthy treats for us to give them. Now they have sweets. The other children who visit are very polite and the younger ones have parents waiting at the front gates.
Nice to hear your collection has grown, and also that your Halloween is very much alive and well.
I like your BAT! Do not mess with him. He’s perfect – whir or no whir!
Happy Halloween, Bruce! 🎃👻😵💫😱
Resa, your comment is now officially out of WordPress jail. Have a Happy one!🦇👻🎃😱
Are you a licensed open bat surgeon? If not, then I recommend taking a step back and think of the damage you could do, possibly irreparable damage!
*wrings hands
Oh, won’t someone think of the stuffed bats?!?
😉
I am not a licensed open bat surgeon, nor do I play one on TV.🦇😉
Hahaha!
Having scores of trick and treaters is one of the few things I miss about living in town. Out here in the sticks the houses are too far apart and we don’t any. Not a single one.
Unless you count the raccoons. They do wear masks..
🦝
I get that. At one time, we lived wayyyyy off the road, and it was a back road at that. Nobody could find it…except for the raccoons of course.🦝
Howdy. Last year, maybe 15 kids knocked on our door. We used to get much larger numbers, but no more. It’s cool that you get 80+.
It is fun to see streets as occupied as when I was making the rounds. We are grateful that part of the day/night has not changed here.
I love your bat! And I trust the trick-or-treaters do, too. No kids in my neighborhood, but tomorrow at work we’ll have dozens. I wish I knew where I could watch, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” That would be perfect. Have fun with all the kids and their parents. Hope you have some candy left over!
I am sure Bat-dude would love Walter and Mimi. The Peanuts folks signed a deal with Apple for exclusive rights, but each year they offer a free trial at the holidays for the Charlie Brown shows…people sign up and then cancel after they watch. We are already preparing for the “likely” possibility there will be leftovers.😉
Perfection wouldn’t suit the bat dude. Being a little off, being nowhere near perfect, actually makes him fit nicely into this holiday. Better to be memorable than to be perfect, and this guy is proving it.
I couldn’t have worded it any better, sir. (Bat-dude agrees!)🦇
Love the bat dude.
Halloween is still my favorite holiday. I miss dressing up with the rest of the teaching staff. We used to have a great time following a theme. We did Toy Story, The Wizard of Oz, and all dressed as school supplies one year. Work is so much more enjoyable when you’re surrounded by other people who like to have fun.
Our son lives in South Dakota and just asked us for a snow blower for his birthday. We’re going to see them in a week. I’ll enjoy teasing him about how he’s gotten so practical in his old age.😊
Dressed as school supplies is one of the cooler themes I’ve heard of. That had to be so much fun. I’ll tell ya, our snow blower added so much value to “enjoying” winter here. Not only is there the peace of mind you can dig yourself (and others!) out, but it is fun to put that snow in its better place.😊
Cute bat! Your love of Halloween shines through – you are right that it is an enduring tradition in a time when many are falling away! Happy Halloween to you and Mrs. B.
Love her love of power tools, BTW. I think you are right to keep vacuuming if she’s handling the hedge trimming!
I do respect her power tool game, Wynne. Bat-dude and I wish you and your family a Happy Halloween!
I love your observation about connecting with neighbors – folks that we see only at a distance – when they’re out trick-or-treating with their kids. We feel the same. A little community building goodness. Yes, yes! 💝🎃💝
Thanks, Vicki. We like to pay it forward for future generations. Kinda the definition of tradition, right?🎃
You betcha, Bruce! 🥰🎃🥰
Adorable little bugger. Wishing you a spooktacular but safe Halloween. 🎃
Monika, thank you for stopping by here today. Wishing you, Wilson, and the Ranch the very best Halloween!
Java Bean: “Ayyy, I have some toys that have sadly lost their voices temporarily, like Mr. Bill and Woody Woodpecker. But then somehow they get their voices back. It’s a miracle if you ask me!”
Lulu (whispering): “It’s because Mama and Dada take the broken toy away and replace it with a new one, but don’t tell Bean that.”
Lulu, that secret stays here!
The Great Pumpkin🎃 is a staple!
Made sure to watch the Charlie Brown special the day before Halloween. The tradition continues!🎃
Bruce, I loved reading the story of Bat-dude! “performing open bat surgery” absolutely slayed me. LOL. He’s the cutest bat I’ve ever seen. Belated wishes for a happy Halloween. Hugs.
Teagan, Bat-dude and I send Hugs back at ya!
I love Mr. Bat! I would have thought to do the same thing. I love making older things that doesn’t work anymore… work. But in this case…maybe he is serving his purpose just fine…you are just helping him out a little by doing his Whirrrr job.
Max, I have to believe Bat-dude is living his best life now, and I can “fill in” his whirr anytime!
Thank you for making me laugh with the whirr…. I hope he lives long and prospers as Spock would say!
Well that little bat is adorable and even more so for what he lacks what a beautiful message .So happy you and your wife enjoyed Halloween .
I hope yours was a Happy one as well. Bat-dude, Mrs. B and I all thank you for your comment!
Yes it was It was fun seeing all the little ones all dressed up.and to the both of you yw.
I like your attitude about keeping Bat-Dude just the way he is. We all age and change, right?
Thanks, Jennie. Bat-dude is just adjusting as he goes along. We all have to pivot on occasion!
You’re welcome, Bruce. Best to Bat-dude.
Weirdest talking toy I had was a plush dog bone that you could speak into and it recorded your voice to play back when they chewed it. Which is weird in itself. But my mother recorded some messages and for a while there I could listen to her talking to the dog while he chewed the bone, even after she was gone. That was a strange experience.
That is one very cool talking toy tale.
very cute!
Thanks, da-AL!
We have a similar item that we put out on Halloween, although it has a very loud voice that sometimes scares little kids. We’ve had it forever and the battery never seems to diminish. It always sounds exactly as it did before. At some point it HAS to give out. But not this year. It got through the night. I agree–I love that the Halloween tradition continues. It was one of my favorite days as a kid and I love seeing everyone out with a costume they selected themselves, having a great time.
Your everlasting Halloween decoration sounds like a real winner, and I think you have a winning attitude when it comes to carrying on with a traditional Halloween.
That’s a very cut bat, Bruce. He looks like part of Homer Simpson’s family. I hope you had a great Halloween. I spent mine enjoying a Christmas movie or two, and I don’t care how wrong that is. 😁
G, you started in on Christmas movies already! I am still working on a few more scary ones before conceding to all things Yuletide.😁Had a great Halloween, and so did Bat-dude!🦇
I think it’s partly because horror isn’t my go-to. Also, I just love looking at Christmas lights and tasteful decorations. I’m happy for you and other big fans of Halloween because you have more to celebrate. 🥳🎄
We usually get around 75 trick-or-treaters on Hallowe’en, and my sweety and I enjoy checking out the kids’ costumes. More and more older teens are getting in on the action. And while they often aren’t costumed, we still enjoy seeing them getting in on the fun.
We’re not much for decorating for this occasion, though enjoy the displays that some folks in the neighbourhood put on.
I’ve always wondered though, why no kids carry the once ubiquitous UNICEF boxes to collect coin donations. I suppose the program ended, but what a lost opportunity to do some good while having fun.
Steve, I actually used to be one of those toting the UNICEF boxes. It is nice to hear you have as many visitors as that these days. Our decorating for that time of year is purely Fall-oriented opposed to specific Halloween looks, but we do enjoy looking at other folks’ displays as well.
Me, too, to toting for UNICEF. And my boys, too. For a few years anyway, and then it just stopped being a thing.
Love bat-dude ! It’s nice that he’s still around after so many years. And wow, that’s a lot of kids knocking at your door ! Your neighbourhood must be pretty active during Halloween ! 😀
We have a blast each Halloween, Lashaan. Once the first set of kids turns up the street at nightfall, it gets pretty wild for the next hour or so. (Bat-dude appreciates the kind words…!)