Halloween is here my dear, but there is nothing to fear.....

[Carolynn]

BOO!!

Hope you can enjoy Halloween (those in the US that have fun with it, anyway). I actually bought a few decorations this year, lighted skulls to mark the walkway, spider web with sparkly green spiders, and a tombstone set. It looks kinda neat at night.

Of course the folks in the NE that have had to deal with Sandy got an early Halloween trick without any treat, and many died. My condolences to folks in that area. Does kinda put a damper on things, eh?

Carolynn

[Anita]

Ah, Carolynn, I wish we had an "outside" to decorate. I really like all the displays in the neighborhood here. Perhaps I haven’t noticed it in years past, but there are strings of lights this year, sort of like Christmas lights but not quite—some are orange, of course.

I was working in a very up-scale community today, and the kids had elaborate costumes. I had forgotten what a big deal Halloween was to me every year, up until I was 13 or so. I loved the costumes, but I never even thought about going out as a girl. At about 10 or 11, we started going out to do “tricks”—mainly soaping windows, or throwing corn.

I still like the “spookiness” of Halloween, but it’s been five years since I rented a costume and went out. I still love that can-can girl costume that I’m wearing in the photo gallery.

[Carolynn]

Hi Anita. I thought every year after I was 8 about trick or treating as a girl, but there was just NO WAY that would be tolerated. I trick or treated with some of the neigborhood kids for a few years and stopped dressing up after I was 11. I found more fun in hanging around and passing out candy since I couldn't do what I wanted.

There seemed more kids this year, especially young ones!, and some of their young parents dressed up to take them trick or treating. The little ones in costume were unbeleivably precious in some cases. They seemed shy until I would start asking them if they were having fun, and then their faces would light up and they would speak right up. It was fun. I went through 112 pieces of candy, so, since I put two in some containers and one in others, I kinda think I had some 65 separate trick or treaters. Much better than last year.

At the nursing home where my Mom is, the staff dressed up and got some of the old people involved. They were having fun. In the evening the folks that wanted to do so sat in the lobby and gave out treats to the little kids that parents brought by and visited. My Mom is blind, and she said she didn't want to do that as she couldn't see the kids and their costumes. I couldn't change her mind, so we ate and I took her back to her room and got her evening routine done for bed. I really wish she could see.

All in all, a successful Halloween, I think.

[Carly]

I dressed as a girl for halloween when I was 11. I don't know how I got the nerve up to borrow my sisters clothes.

[Anita]

They seemed shy until I would start asking them if they were having fun, and then their faces would light up and they would speak right up. It was fun.

That is nice, and I like hearing about it. I'm getting a little better with kids as the years go by. I'm glad you could get through their initial shyness.

Carly, that took a lot of courage. I don't remember anyone dressing as a girl, when I was a kid.