Rob Carlo threw a big Halloween party in 7th grade. This was intimidating, exciting and terrifying all at once—not because of the holiday but because there were going to be actual GIRLS attending. Since Dungeons & Dragons was all the rage in 1981, I thought I would impress by dressing as a high-level wizard.

Now my mom was like Betsy Ross with a needle and thread. She could turn a bolt of corduroy into the Sears Summer Collection for all three of us DiTerlizzi kids. I wanted a Royal Blue robe with gold stars so we traveled to Joanne Fabrics and found my color in velour.

Velour is velvety and perfect for upholstering a chair or, in my case, making the sacred robes of a warlock. Mom and I worked on my costume for weeks, right down to a cotton ball beard. When we were finished I look like I'd stepped right out of The Dungeon Master's Guide.

I donned my finest party attire, then pulled on my wizard's robe...only to realize that velour doesn't breathe. In minutes I was drenched in perspiration. The only solution was to lose my clothing and wear my tighty-whiteys under the costume. This wardrobe malfunction, along with costuming my brother and sister for trick-or-treating, meant I arrived at Rob's party late.

By the time I rang the doorbell, most attendees had shed their costumes in favor of casual attire, which I was encouraged to do, but this wizard could not remove his magic cloak. Consequently, I sweat so much that my beard fell apart, leaving a trail of damp cotton balls wherever I went. However, my wizardly appearance did add to the mood when we played “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board.”