For three months, Tammy told John that since Halloween was one of her favorite holidays, she was excited to dress up as the Statue of Liberty. She repeatedly asked him what he was going to be that year.
As a busy landscaper, he assured her he would think of something and would let her know when he decided. As the holiday approached, she continued to ask, “John, we’re going out with my friends on Halloween night, and we’re going to several different parties. I want us to look good. What are you going to be?”
You see, John could be a bit of a procrastinator, and he felt that finding the perfect costume could wait until the last couple of days. Meanwhile, his artistic wife spent countless hours creating a gorgeous Lady Liberty wardrobe.
When work overwhelmed him that week, he came home on the day of the parties to find a frustrated wife standing in the living room, decked out in a beautiful Statue of Liberty costume. She informed him, “We’re leaving in three hours. If you don’t find a costume, I may just go by myself.”
The landscaper/procrastinator was now on the hook. How could time have slipped away so fast? His only option was to find the box of past holiday costumes and hope he could pull something together that looked presentable. But what could possibly go with a New York girl like Lady Liberty?
As he quickly emptied the box of clothes and accessories onto the floor, his mind suddenly exploded with inspiration when he saw three objects lying next to each other: a wand, a princess crown, and—OMG—a huge pink tutu with ruffles and sparkling fabric that practically screamed, “Please, please put me on!”
“John, what have you decided to wear?” Tammy called down.
“Honey, just stand in the middle of the room,” he replied. “I think we have a winner.”
As Tammy stood there, her smiling husband appeared in a very tight pink tutu, crown on his head, twirling his wand with delight as he began to circle his wife. Laughing, he asked, “So, Honey, do you know who I am?”
You see, John had visited the Statue of Liberty several times with Boy Scout Troop 399, and that’s where his inspiration came from.
That night in Evansville, Indiana, a very different couple stole the show at several parties, with John twirling around his wife as… The Staten Island Fairy.
Some 25 years later, Tammy surprised him by wanting to resurrect that magical night. She once again spent hours redesigning both costumes for another contest at her sister’s house. And once again, with John gleefully twirling his wand around his wonderful Lady Liberty, they won… Best of Show.