Halloween

Halloween is so much fun! Growing up in a relatively small neighborhood, I was able to safely go from door to door with a group of friend - collecting candy and just having a grand time!

I will never forget that one man gave me a potato every year in place of candy, and it wasn't until I grew up that I understood why. What more can you do with candy besides eat it, get a sugar rush and then it's over? Not much really. But a potato! Oh the possibilities! And it was the odd quirk that has made me remember that man - even 15 years down the road of life.

Speaking of remembering...Decorations!!! Oh how I long to own my own home so I can go as nuts with the spooky lights, haunting sounds and general Halloween decor as my parents did. Our house was known for it's Halloween decorations. We used to compete with a neighbor across the street each year. We had everything - moving coffin doors, an entire outdoor laboratory - complete with lit up beakers of food dye colored water and sludge and a vibrating piece of sheet metal that would vibrate and scare trick or treaters with the press of a button! Ah, those were the days!

It's a real shame how different Halloween is now than it was 15-20 years ago. Parents have to check candy before giving it to their children, and going out unattended with friends is a thing of the past. The world is cruel and unsafe now. I miss the safety and simplicity of the old world...

I can only hope that this year, you have just as much fun with your families as I have in the past. This year, I am dressing my daughter up as a lady bug. She'll be 11 months old on Halloween - so not really old enough to do much. So, we'll be staying home (we don't live near any family) and handing out candy to the other trick or treaters.

What am I going as? A mom. Yup! One of the best costumes out there! (LOL)