When I was a kid growing up, Halloween was a child-friendly experience. As I recall, my costume was primarily a mask that hid my identity. I may be wrong, but I don't remember having a full costume. I remember those kinds of details for my kids and grandkids, but it was simpler during my childhood.
During my elementary school years, my twin and I were always a matched pair. We always wore identical clothing. Halloween was an exception. We could color outside the lines and be entirely different.
Our younger brother always was with us when we went trick-or-treating. Larry was so shy back then that he probably would never have knocked on anyone's door.
I remember one year when my grandchildren were living at Camp Lejeune, Craig walked with his kids and waited on the street. The yards were large. A high-ranking officer and his wife were sitting in chairs around a firepit.
Jake is one of those kids who never met a stranger. He simply took a seat in a chair and was content to engage in conversation and enjoy the warmth of the fire. Craig had to go get him.
We mostly walked from door-to-door around the block where we lived. It was always a big win when one of the neighbors gave out homemade popcorn balls as a treat. Homemade cookies wrapped in cellophane were also a special treat.
As a little kid, my mother walked with us. By the time we were in the first grade, we walked without needing an adult to be present. Seriously, back then, we walked three blocks to school, and no one considered that unsafe. It was a different world in those days. It was a safer world back then.
By the time we figured out that there was no Santa Claus and that our parents doubled as the tooth fairy, the magic of Halloween faded away, and we wanted to be person to open the door and pass out the candy.
Living in a new neighborhood, we didn't know what to expect last night, but we were prepared. The large over-priced bag of candy we purchased has been untouched. There were no trick-or-treaters at our door.
By the way, I remember going through a haunted house or two. I won't say I was ever terrified, but I prefer never to be in a situation where the flight or fight processes in my brain are activated.
My challenge today is to leave the Halloween candy in the bag.
All My Best!
Don
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