Thursday, October 30, 2014

Remembering One Silly Ghost

Remember when Halloween treats were mostly homemade goodies? If not, then you’re not old enough to salivate over candy apples, sugar cookies with orange icing and licorice eyes and mouths, or dozens of kinds of brownies nestled snuggly in your brown paper bag decorated by hand with crayons and/or construction paper. And our ghost of choice was Casper, the friendliest of all.

All of that changed when Houston, Texas, became the scene of the horrific murder of a child poisoned by Halloween candy. Eventually, his father was prosecuted for the crime, but the damage was done. Parents became fearful of their children being given tainted candy. Now everything is individually wrapped and mostly awarded to kids in malls or other tightly controlled environments.

Today I will go to see my grandchildren in their costumed glory, lucky enough to live in a neighborhood full of families known and trusted by their parents. They will “trick or treat” the old-fashioned way, going house to house with their Dad while Mom stays behind to deliver her wrapped store-bought offerings to kids she knows. Almost—but not quite—like days of yore.

One Halloween I’ll never forget. My parents had moved to a house with a fireplace (an extravagant feature). Dad—always one to play a prank—climbed up on the roof and hid behind the chimney, where he donned a white sheet. As one or more children started up the walk to our house, Dad jumped out from the chimney and yelled, “Boo.” As you might guess, none of them stayed around long enough to check out the candy!

So tonight, make a memory, no matter your choice of activities. And thank you, Charles Graham, for your silly antics that still make me laugh.