Sterile Halloween

We had another 0-fer as far as trick or treaters goes but on the way home we noticed clusters of huge halloween hordes hitting designated areas because these have been identified as safe and/or alternatives. So instead of going door to door down the street, kids hit small, well lighted, densely populated areas where they can maximize their treat intake in the the minimum amount of time. We saw a huge church that was a designated area so kids didn’t even have to go out in the elements. Of course the kids aren’t allowed to trick or treat by themselves, it’s much too dangerous…

It’s amazing we survived all those Halloweens as kids walking up and down our dark road by ourselves during the 70’s. Well I guess one good part of the new sterile holiday is as a responsible, middle class homeowner I don’t have to worry about kids raiding my house either. Although kids don’t know what they are missing.

I clearly remember the one year I raided. The thrill of putting an M80 in a mailbox and running like mad as you heard the explosion behind you. I remember diving into a ditch as a vehicle with a deer spotlight was scanning the area looking for the vandals that were raising hell around the area. I remember my friend Pete yelling, “Close your eyes so they don’t see the reflection!” We wore dark clothes and stealthed across the neighborhood doing damage that didn’t go beyond the annoyance level. It was a thrill. Of course the 37 year old version of myself would be running down the 13 or 14 year old version of myself after he M80’d my mailbox. Amazing how perspective changes.