Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Spooktacular Halloween

Orange and white twinkling lights catch my eye as I enter the store and at that moment I'm compelled to wander over to the Halloween displays.  I may as well have just stepped into a time machine though because its suddenly 20 years ago.

Its Halloween and my kids have hurriedly put on their costumes, waiting waiting for darkness.  They start whipping each other with their pillowcases (the vessel to collect their treasures), pent up excitement to get this show on the road!   I insist they eat SOMETHING before we head out but my request has been met with moans and groans instead.  No sense in fighting this battle - this day was meant for sugar overdoses.  Period.  Out we go as I glimpse at my watch.    One hour maximum!

They don't walk to the houses...they RUN.  The faster you go, the more houses you hit.  The more houses you hit, the more candy you get.  I have choreographed the route so at a half hour we turn around, cross the street, and work our way back.   Ahhhh.....back home.   Stand back!   The family room floor is about to be re-carpeted in Ring Pops, Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Pop Rocks and chocolate bars.    Are they interested in sorting, counting, eating?   Oh heck no.   Let's not forget ROUND #2 begins now!    AND my friends......Round #2 is the bonus round.    The closer it gets to the end of the evening, people want to rid themselves of any candy they have left so now instead of getting just ONE piece, the neighbors are handing out multiple pieces - even HANDFULS!!!   Another sweep of the neighborhood and its time to march home.

Pillowcases dumped out.   Candy sorted and the sugar high begins.  But the best  part about all of this?   Kids don't particularly love chocolate.     Awwwww.....what a shame.   Here....let mom alleviate the burden of hauling that worthless chocolate upstairs to your room.   :)     I guess I'll have to take one for the team.   Suffer through the days even weeks ahead of an abundance of Kit-Kats, Hershey Bars and my weakness - Almond Joys.     Tsk tsk....tis a shame.    My dentist is secretly planning a trip to Europe on me.

The memories of the costume search before Halloween, the parties at school, the excitement that permeates the house the hours before they go out to trick-or-treat.....if I could turn back the clock I would.   The innocence of childhood.....*sighs.   I wish something excited me that much now!    I still love Halloween though.   My kids are grown and will be taking their own children out trick-or-treating some day, but I still  stand outside on Halloween night and oooo and ahhhh at the costumes of the little goblins, watch the kids cut across the lawns to the next house, and laugh at the reaction of the little ones when they hear the cackling witch from somewhere in my garden.      My strategy now?   Buy way more chocolate bars than I'll need to hand out.  Darn!  I'll  have to eat the surplus myself.  

To celebrate the magical day of Halloween and the beautiful colors of autumn, I've made a few decorations which are in my Marketplace store and at the main store.     Happy Halloween!!