Attention, ghosts and ghouls! Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. The weather here will be cool but dry. I expect we will have a record turnout. In our village, the children are allowed to Trick or Treat from five to seven at night. Because it’s Saturday, more parents will be home - not tired from the long Chicago commute - to take part in the holiday. I have so many great memories of Halloween as a child and as an adult, dressing up and taking my children door to door. My children are grown now, but I suspect at least one of them would like to show up at your door and yell, “Trick or treat!”
Murphy doesn’t see the attraction. He is confused by the yellow Minions - which I have determined will be the biggest costume this year. He follows me to our door and watches me grab handfuls of candy for each child. He preaches moderation and fears that we will run out of candy, causing the costumed tykes to mount an offensive, and he will be removing toilet paper streamers Sunday morning. Toilet paper has so many plies these days that it gets more and more difficult to remove the quilted squares from the tops of the trees.
Our neighborhood is about twelve years old. The tots who arrived on our doorstep are now teenagers. They still come after the warning whistle sounds for the end of trick or treating, and I still give them candy. Their parents don’t follow them as closely as they once did, but I expect they worry twice as much. Halloween for the teens is about the scare and the fun of running around with their friends, daring each other to check out the shadow with the axe.
Time to get ready. Time to fill the giant Halloween bowl with candy, slapping my hubby’s hand as he tries to remove as many Snickers as he can. I hear Murph downstairs sharpening his axe. Perhaps this year, we won’t have any toilet paper in Murphy’s trees…
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
