Halloween Fun

THIS IS FROM HALLOWEEN 2005

From the time I was a child, I have always gone trick or treating. (Yes, I grew up in a Christian home and yes, I know what some people think and this post is not about that so just save it.).

It is one of the best times of the year. In my childhood neighborhood, we knew almost everyone so going around was just saying "HI" to the neighbors. There was always Lynn and Leslie's big brother and their friends who made a haunted house with of a bowl of spaghetti and peeled grapes. The Holmgrens always had a movie playing full screen in the front yard and Mrs. Smith made homemade donuts.

My grownup neighborhood is the very similar. We build our house in 1998 and have lived here ever since. My children were brought home to this house. We have welcomed new neighbors. We all get to know each other around the pool in the summer and our kids get together and play whenever possible. My front yard is always full of kids playing Star Wars, chase, Monkey in the Middle, or football. Some of these children we have know since they were babies and some of them are new friends but either way, they have become friends.

This year we managed to make it to every house in our neighborhood that had on the front porch light. Many people commented "how big your boys have grown!" We had a lovely addition to our trick or treating, a sweet boy who lives in our neighborhood who is an only child went around with us. He fit right into our theme of Star Wars.

We made the rounds in two hours. The bags were overflowing with candy. Hopalong had to empty his bag into a smaller one because it was too heavy to carry. Masks were dumped because in typical Texas style, it was hot on Halloween. Actually, it was a perfect night.

Butch is a Clone Trooper, Sundance is Bobo Fett and Hopalong is R2D2. (You'll remember it is his favorite.) I bought costumes this year because I was just not up to making them. Our neighbor was Darth Vader. Grandad, Auntie and Uncle Mitchell drove along in the Halloween Support Vehicle (aka Grandad's minivan). We ate great hotdogs (Hebrew Nationals) for supper and Ruffles chips. (my favorite)

I know there are many places where children are not safe. I won't even let my kids go around the block by themselves but this one night a year, our neighborhood resembles the one that reside in my memory and I am thankful.