HALLOWEEN

Why oh why did I ever pick this holiday to start with. Must have been a senior moment (brain fart).
We didn't celebrate or even observe Halloween when I was a kid. In Milwaukee, this observance took
two days. On the 30th we had beggar's night. The night kids dressed up and went trick or treating
and to those who didn't give treats, these kids would go back on the 31st and trick them. My parents
would not let us go out to beg. We had sufficient and didn't need to go begging. Playing tricks on
people was not a christian way of life. It was the night of the devil and we just really didn't need to be
a part of it.

One Halloween, tho, we broke that rule. I was in the 8th grade and belonged to a girl's group from my
class. We called ourselves the "lucky six". I remember 5 of those girls, but I can't remember the 6th.
Shirley, Ries, Dorothy Zamow, myself and Dianne Sieber. I guess I only remember 4. Anyhow this
particular Oct 30th we got together and wore costumes and went out begging. I remember I did have
"permission" because Dianne's parents were some of the upper class members at our church and if
it was OK with them, then that was the word. It was fun. I don't remember how I was dressed, but
gypsy keeps popping up in my head. We went door-to-door. One lady gave us rotten apples and
the next night we went back and did the unthinkable----right we played a trick on her. She had a
closed in front porch, so we did the unthinkable dirty trick--we took those rotten apples and smeared
them all over her windows. Then we went back to Diannne's house and had a party. We played the
game where someone (her dad) read a spooky story and all the lights were out (he read by the light
of a flashlight) and we had to put our hands into creepy stuff. Peeled grapes for eyeballs, cooked
cold pasta for intestines, jello for brains, pretzel sticks for the backbone. You get the picture.
That is the only childhood memory I have of Halloween.

I know we bought candy for beggar's night, so when we moved to Californian and we lived on
Whiteknoll Dr Grandpa and I bought lots of candy. Imagine our feelings when NOONE showed
up. California does not do "beggar's night". Never fear they all came the next night.

One Halloween I really remember is when we lived on Shipman. Of course, we celebrated the
All Saints Night every year. I would make a pot of chili, that way people could eat when they wanted
to, and it stayed hot. Thus started that family tradition. Grandpa really got into the spirit of things
and loved decorating the yard, and helping the kids get together a costume. It was usually my
job to go with the kids trick or treating and he would give out the candy at home. My favorite stop
(and my kids) was at Harold and Eloise's across the street. They gave out regular size candy bars
and I got a bottle of Milwaukee's best in a paper sack. God help the kids who tried to come back
for seconds, Eloise had a mind like a steel trap and read those kids the riot act. Usually we would
all come back to our house and the kids had hot dogs and hot chocolate, and their parents would
have some adult beverages.

One year, tho grandpa really outdid himself. He took a pair of his jeans and a flannel shirt and
stuffed them with newspaper. Made a head with a cap on it, hung it from the tree right by the
front gate and rigged up a speaker system. This "person" hung over a graveyard mad complete
with tombstones and dead pine needle mounds. Whenever a child came up to the gate the hanging
man spoke to the unsuspecting person, saying things like "would you scratch my foot" Please help
me get down" "I don't know why I am up here" It was great. Word s pread and people were dropping
kids off by the carloads. Mike even gave up trick or treating and he hid in the house and took over
the microphone. Only bad things some kids got so scared they wouldn't come to the door for their
treat.
Then the grandkids came along and it was their turn. We usually went over to Dawn and Chip's for
chili and s pent Halloween with them.

Today, I just turn off the porch light and watch tv. I was prepared the first year her in Las Vegas,
but we had two teenagers show up at 7:30 and that was it. I believe Halloween is a fun night and
should be for kids. I love seeing the costumes and love getting pictures of the greatgrandbabies
all dressed up. I am eager to see "kenna and kyla" as bad witches, Luke as Darth Vader, Gavin
as a trash truck (good job Brian) Maggie and Katie in whatever they are, Carter will be a surprise
too. I never dressed up and if the kids asked I just said I will be a "mean old mom" who will not
take the kids trick or treating if they ask again.

Next Holiday NEVADA DAY, oh no that's the same as Halloween in this state, so I guess Armistice
Day now known as Veteran's day is next on the calendar.

Love you guys