Halloween is Not Just for Kids

As a former curmudgeon (and still somewhat) when it comes to Halloween, I have to thank my wife for helping me appreciate the day. For me, the constant running to the door when flocks of kids showed up for their free candy was just not fun. It was a pain in the neck that I did not enjoy especially not being a big candy fan to begin with.

There was one exception that happened many years ago when a 10-year-old GI Joe showed up at the door (screen still in). Wanting to test his preparedness for “trick or treat”, I responded “trick” when he recited the requisite candy-producing line. He promptly pulled out a water pistol and shot me through the screen door. After a second of shock – me for him being prepared, and him for wondering if he had just made a huge mistake – I burst out laughing and let him take as much candy as he wanted from the bowl. That is still one of my favorite Halloween memories. Kids today barely recite that line and responding with “trick” would likely be seen as hostile in this whacky time. That’s too bad.

Back to my wife’s influence as a Halloween fanatic. Shortly after moving into our home, she suggested we sit outside on our driveway when the weather permitted. That solved the doorbell issue. Then she added snacks for us, wine for her and beer for me. She shoots and scores! Not only did that turn a chore into something fun, it attracted our immediate neighbors to join us, bringing their candy, drinks and snacks. A win-win-win as we didn’t have to move since the candy bowl was on a bench in front of us, we got to hang out with some of our neighbors, and the kids could hit 3 or more houses in 1 shot. It’s become a tradition for us with the only variant being that when the weather is bad we move to a neighbor’s garage.

For a couple of years when I was able to get out of work early but my wife wasn’t, I grabbed a chair, a bucket of beers, a cigar, and of course the candy, and parked myself in front of the house. Many dads told me they wished they could trade places, and a few even got a beer for trick or treat, then swore their child to secrecy from Mom. Now we often see groups of parents taking their kids around and carrying their red plastic cups.

On one of those earlier Halloweens outside, a neighbor came over dressed as a bunch of grapes. When she accepted a glass of wine from my wife I busted on her about how wrong it was to be drinking wine while dressed as grapes. A form of cannibalism?

The little tradition my wife started is now in its 20th year and it makes the day more fun. We see families from around the neighborhood that we pretty much only see on Halloween. Neighbors stop by and some hang out for snacks and drinks, and we get to see the kids in their costumes. We’ve watched a lot of the neighborhood kids grow up through our little Halloween gatherings.

My message here is, look for ways to make life fun. Sometimes a simple change of perspective will do that. Sometimes a physical change – like moving outside to enjoy the weather, interacting with neighbors, and having snacks and drinks is the remedy. It doesn’t have to take a lot of effort, it just takes the initiative to look at things differently and then act.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 10-31-2022