Ghosts of Halloween Past
Here...Just Reminiscing
Wow! How time flies. Halloween is yet upon us again. All the little ghosts and goblins are just itching to run amok under a moonlit sky chasing each other or in search of sweet treats at the next spookish destination. Growing up I remember wearing the plastic princess mask with the blue gown (Hmmm...was that Cinderella? purchased at Kmart?...maybe,) and using the brown grocery bags for holding my candy stash. Mom would carry the flashlight and extra bags for Raul and me just in case we filled our first bags with lots of sweet sugary treasures. Up and down each block we would roam but only to the houses with lights on. Then running to the next brightly lit casita to announce "trick or treat!" (Yes, we watched for cars!) After we had exhausted the neighborhood, and Mom, we would head home on sore feet and sugar. Of course she let us have candy...right after she checked the piece first. AND, no one touches any of the candy until it has ALL been checked out. Fast forward 8 or 10 years and now we are the ones taking our boys trick or treating in the neighborhood. Handmade costumes (cuz I love to create) and plastic pumpkin heads were the candy catchers. My boys always started their excursion with a handful of candy in the bucket for good luck on leading them to more chocolate. I still carried extra bags, of course, but they were plastic and much easier to fit into my pocket. Flashlight in hand and off we were to plunder and pillage for candy! Only to the houses with lights on. Watch for cars crossing the streets. Stay together. Then they too would be worn out and ready to head home, check the candy and be ready for stomach aches, sometimes. Told ya'll not to sneak the candy!! Times sure have changed for trick or treating. Now there are more closely monitored events to keep the kids safe. Church events or Trunk or Treat. I sure do miss going to the Halloween festival the elementary school would hold with the bake sale/cake walk, bobbing for apples or the silent auction. The different booths for the kids like fishing or ring toss. Yes, then they grow up. I have been fortunate that we were able to take our grandchildren trick or treating a few times. Brings back memories and makes new ones. I still buy candy and hand it out, just in case, even though our neighborhood is hit or miss every year whether we get tons of kids or barely any at all. I love to see all the different costumes that come to my door. I don't care how old you are. If you come to my house and say "Trick or Treat" you will get candy. Just ask the guys at work! Lol Make sure all the little pumpkins and werewolves are home by the witching hour and stay safe out there everyone! Happy Halloween...
Peace & Blessings,
Julie
