Halloween Fun

Backward, turn backward,
O Time, in your flight
make me a child again
just for to-night!
~Elizabeth Akers Allen

They all arrived at our door one by one seeking their supply of the sustenance for their creepy campaign of contentment and joviality. Sugar, glucose, fructose and corn syrup seem to fuel these ferocious fiends as they meander from dwelling to dwelling hoping, waiting, earnestly expecting to take their elixirs elsewhere for an accounting of their travail. Home with their haversacks, they begin the great gorge.   It might best be described as a glut and gobble. Rockets, Aero and Kit Kat bars, bubble gum, sour candy, fuzzy candy, jujubes, suckers, potato chips, pop, Smarties, M & M’s, Junior Mints, and all other many of  confectionery fall from pillow sheets, Pumpkin containers, Sobeys bags and (in the older kids cases) garbage bags onto living room floors all over North America.  Spiderman sits on a floor, now mask-less, sucking on a lollipop. Batman`s cape is still jammed in the front door as he reclines and wolfs back and Wonder Bar. Wigs, masks, and uncomfortable jewellery are strewn across homes as there is no time for tidiness when the harvest needs to be assessed and, at least in part, consumed.  The feed goes on for a very short but intense time. And then there is that collective cry from across the land….“Mom…my tummy hurts! “

As I watched the children last night I was indeed reminded of my own youth and the fun that something like Halloween would bring to us. The costumes were never so fancy, more sort of make up what you can from your parents closets and paint your face or better yet …wear a balaclava. It did not matter! What mattered was how much junk you could get. The line for us in the day was “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.“ In my mind all that sugar was something good to eat…now it’s almost criminal to say that candy is good food. My friend Bill always reminds me of Julia Childs great quote, “They have made us afraid of our food.“ It is great to see kids so excited to come to your door and so delighted to take away some simple treats. I miss that excitement. Okay, who am I kidding, I still enjoy that excitement as much as the next guy. In fact, with people coming by last night I thought I should wear a costume as well. I decided that I would dress like a winner. So I donned my Montreal Canadiens Hockey Sweater and hat!

It was a good night really, we had our Godson Peter over with Peter`s Mom and Peter`s Dad. (By the way have you ever tried ordering pizza on Halloween…NUTS!) Peter is a little young yet for Halloween, but I think his moose p-jays made a great costume.

Many thanks Andrew and Pamela for bringing him over. As the night went on we got to see our Goddaughter Allanah along with little brother Zach as well.

Briggs Fisher was an excellent Sponge Bob. I think the candy bag was just an excellent addition to a great costume.  

It is always great to see kids form the church at Halloween. Earlier in the day our little friends Benjamin and Owen gave me a great display of Optimus Prime and Batman!

Around town over the last few days I noted that there were some eager adults as well. On one west end street there was an array of tombstones that would make any cemetery proud. Not to mention the host of deadened dudes who haunt the yard like a dancer from a Michael Jackson video. I stopped and took a photo or two – have a look.

Now those people take Halloween very seriously…or not! Thank God that there are still those who take the time to play and have fun with the special times in the year. George Bernard Shaw said that “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.“  Hopefully adults far and wide were reminded last night of the importance of having fun and playing. It is good for all of us!