This site is dedicated to sharing memories of Mark Garvey, a man who touched all of our lives. Please post anecdotes or stories of how Mark has made an impact on your life. If you have any problem using the site or see something that needs to be removed or fixed, contact Ben Garvey.
Halloween with the Garveys
This is part of a conversation posted on our family website a while back. It shows how much fun I had growing up with the Garveys, and what an integral part of that experience Uncle Mark has been. I thought you might enjoy reading it again.
Christa Haley - May 26, 2005
Mom and I were talking about one of my Halloween costumes last night, and I thought I'd share a story of this costume with you. I'm starting a few new threads here in History. Feel free to chime in with your own Halloween Memories.
Ok, you all pretty much know I'm a Star Wars freak. So, it shouldn't surprise you then, that I was The Emperor two years running (7th and 8th Grade, to be exact). It was a great costume. I had the latex mask, and a long, black hooded robe Mom made for me. I was the envy of all the other Star Wars freaks at Thomas E Harrington Mount Laurel Middle School.
The first year I wore this costume, Aunt Rita and Uncle Mark told me to go sneak into the bathroom and change into my costume. Uncle Mark had been dressing up as Darth Vader at Halloween for a few years, and we all thought it would be fun to treat Ben and Jake to a surprise visit from The Emperor.
Bursting with pride in my new costume, I changed and came back out. You know what they say about pride though. When I came out of the bathroom I was greated by Jake's shrieking and inconsolable sobs of, "They Empire! The Empire!" (Yes, I was an Empire of One.) He was hysterical for nearly a half hour. Maybe it just seemed that long because I felt so bad. I was certain it would take years of therapy before he'd be able to move past this moment. The poor little guy (this was 1983) had seen his dad dress as Vader his whole life, but had no clue it was me under the Palpatine mask.
So, Jake, if you shudder when you see The Emperor and never knew why, here's your explanation.
Christa
Peggy Haley - May 31, 2005
I remember it well Christa. Thanks for the memory. Halloween with the Garveys was a great time every year.
Christa Haley - Jun 1, 2005
Wasn't it though? :)
Oh! I have another Halloween memory for you. Our first Halloween in NJ, Uncle Mark took Bridget and I around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. He gave us an extra pillow case and told us to tell the people our little brother was lying in bed, too sick to trick-or-treat and could we please have some candy for him. [Note to those who don't know us: We don't have a brother.], I think we had the nerve to ask at one house, and that was it. I hope you got a Hershey's with Almonds out of it at least, Uncle Mark.
Ben Garvey - Jun 7, 2005
Damn, I wish I remembered that. In 1983 I would have just turned 5.
I do remember my Dad coming to a Halloween party at my Aunt Marie's house as Darth Vader. He went around talking to the kids in his best James Earl Jones voice when all of a sudden, my dad walked in the door. Everyone looked back at Darth Vader and we realized we didn't know who was in the costume anymore.
That memory may have been influenced by people retelling it over the years, so if anyone remembers it better they can tell their version.
Rita Garvey - Jul 5, 2005
You have it right Ben. Aunt Marie wanted dad to come over to the kids Halloween Party dressed as Darth. Dad thought it would be fun to have some one else dress up as Darth and talk to the kids for a while before he walked in the door as himself. Mr. Adamonis was happy to do it.
Christa Haley - May 26, 2005
Mom and I were talking about one of my Halloween costumes last night, and I thought I'd share a story of this costume with you. I'm starting a few new threads here in History. Feel free to chime in with your own Halloween Memories.
Ok, you all pretty much know I'm a Star Wars freak. So, it shouldn't surprise you then, that I was The Emperor two years running (7th and 8th Grade, to be exact). It was a great costume. I had the latex mask, and a long, black hooded robe Mom made for me. I was the envy of all the other Star Wars freaks at Thomas E Harrington Mount Laurel Middle School.
The first year I wore this costume, Aunt Rita and Uncle Mark told me to go sneak into the bathroom and change into my costume. Uncle Mark had been dressing up as Darth Vader at Halloween for a few years, and we all thought it would be fun to treat Ben and Jake to a surprise visit from The Emperor.
Bursting with pride in my new costume, I changed and came back out. You know what they say about pride though. When I came out of the bathroom I was greated by Jake's shrieking and inconsolable sobs of, "They Empire! The Empire!" (Yes, I was an Empire of One.) He was hysterical for nearly a half hour. Maybe it just seemed that long because I felt so bad. I was certain it would take years of therapy before he'd be able to move past this moment. The poor little guy (this was 1983) had seen his dad dress as Vader his whole life, but had no clue it was me under the Palpatine mask.
So, Jake, if you shudder when you see The Emperor and never knew why, here's your explanation.
Christa
Peggy Haley - May 31, 2005
I remember it well Christa. Thanks for the memory. Halloween with the Garveys was a great time every year.
Christa Haley - Jun 1, 2005
Wasn't it though? :)
Oh! I have another Halloween memory for you. Our first Halloween in NJ, Uncle Mark took Bridget and I around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. He gave us an extra pillow case and told us to tell the people our little brother was lying in bed, too sick to trick-or-treat and could we please have some candy for him. [Note to those who don't know us: We don't have a brother.], I think we had the nerve to ask at one house, and that was it. I hope you got a Hershey's with Almonds out of it at least, Uncle Mark.
Ben Garvey - Jun 7, 2005
Damn, I wish I remembered that. In 1983 I would have just turned 5.
I do remember my Dad coming to a Halloween party at my Aunt Marie's house as Darth Vader. He went around talking to the kids in his best James Earl Jones voice when all of a sudden, my dad walked in the door. Everyone looked back at Darth Vader and we realized we didn't know who was in the costume anymore.
That memory may have been influenced by people retelling it over the years, so if anyone remembers it better they can tell their version.
Rita Garvey - Jul 5, 2005
You have it right Ben. Aunt Marie wanted dad to come over to the kids Halloween Party dressed as Darth. Dad thought it would be fun to have some one else dress up as Darth and talk to the kids for a while before he walked in the door as himself. Mr. Adamonis was happy to do it.
Haha, these are great stories.
I just heard one not too long ago that had me laughing pretty hard. It was Lynn Schneider's 40th birthday and I think they were at a PMMI meeting at some fancy-schmancy hotel. Dad decided to dress up as the grim reaper for Lynn and did so down the hall in a lobby bathroom or something. On the way to the ballroom where they were all having dinner, Dad passed by 2 little old ladies sitting in the lobby, shaking in their tennis shoes at the sight of Dad. Dad, not wanting to pass up this moment, sternly pointed to one of the little old ladies and said "YOU!!..... not yet...."
Did I get it right?
OMG!!! That's hilarious!
At Donna and Joe Owens house last year around a bonfire Uncle Mark played the guitar as usual. He started telling some different stories, but one in particular made me laugh. He was dating Aunt Rita and one day he told grandma Haley that he wrote a song for Rita to express how much he cared for her. It was very short, but to the point. The song goes like this.
Rita , I f@$%*%$ love her . . .
Now as I have been told grandma Haley did not put up with foul language, but she let Uncle Mark get away with it because as we all know, he was the light in many peoples lives. I hope I told this right, So in the words of my Unlce Mark who was definitely a light in my life as well, Aunt Rita I F$#&*@# Love ya . . .
Yes Sarah, thats correct!! I saw him walk in the door, and I got a little nervous thinking about who it could be, only took me a minute to figure it out!! Where he found a grim reaper outfit in Naples Florida I will never know!! He pulled me up to the front of the room and started singing happy birthday!! It was funny and sweet and I'll remember that birthday always.