We figured, though, our new digs in Princeton were more than safe enough for him to do a round of houses with us in tow. You can imagine his excitement. Here is one night out of the year where any random adult answering the door will give you candy, no strings attached. You don't have to earn the candy by doing chores and you don't owe them anything after you leave. They're just giving you candy! For showing up at their house! It's craziness! It's the greatest kids' night of the year!
Here's a video of Thomas's first door-knocking experience (warning, video is pretty dark on account of it being night-time and whatnot):
We weren't the only trick-or-treaters on the block, but we did notice a certain dearth of kids. So, in fact, did the candy-dispensers who gave whole handfuls to Thomas, presumably to get rid of their stashes. At one house, the woman answering offered him the candy bowl and Thomas, being polite I can only suppose, actually took just one. She said, "Oh you should have more than that!" and proceeded to put several fistfuls of Spongebob gummy hamburgers into his bag. At home, we noticed the bowl of candy we had set out on the front porch had lost a certain amount of sugar poundage, but it wasn't empty and once we were home, no one else knocked on the door the rest of the night (it was barely seven o'clock when we walked in the door).
What's going on? From friends and family all around the country, I'm hearing the same news: the death knell of trick-or-treating has been sounded. Most people are speculating that it's a safety issue, which made sense to me in New York, but out here in quiet suburbia, I'm genuinely puzzled at the idea. Is the greatest kid's night of the year actually doomed? When I was a kid (warning, nostalgia alert), I used to roam around my hometown from dusk until...well if not dawn, at least a lot later than 7 pm, usually with a few friends. We'd hit all the big candy givers and avoid spoilsports (like the town dentist) who gave out apples and pencils. Even after we stumbled home exhausted, we'd sit up the remainder of the night scarfing and cataloging our booty.
3 comments:
We too had a really slow night. The kids got quite the haul. We are donating some of the stash to our Bishop who has a treasure box in the Clerk's office. The treasure box is a reward for kids that read their scriptures each day during the week (it has to be personal reading, not family). Our Bishop is kinda busy (as most are) and often forgets to re-fill the treasure. Last night as the kids were going through their candy and sorting it out (I let them each keep only what fits into the Costco sized raisinets container, they each have their own) they found that there was a lot left over. Too much for mom and dad to be stuck with so it was suggested, I can't remember by whom, that we could help the Bishop fill his treasure box. Then they started giving some "good" candy into that pile (I think they realized that they will be digging into that box and want good stuff, not hard-as-rock tootsie rolls, etc.)
I also found that for some reason parents don't know about the whole - if the light on the porch isn't on, then you don't knock on the door rule. I was saying, loudly so other parents could hear, "no guys, not that house, do you see that the porch lights are off - that means they aren't handing out candy this year" Common courtesy is dieing quickly these days.
My kids had fun though - from smallest to largest - Army guy, scarecrow, bookworm (a green striped worm costume with the covers - not real covers, printed off the computer - of 8 of her favorite books), and a zombie (being a 12-year old boy is hard)
Thomas and Seth looked adorable. It is a very exciting holiday.
Our neighborhood usually swarms with kids - I go through bags and bags of candy to hand out. I got home late from rehearsal last night, though, so missed the majority, I think. I had my last trick-or-treater about 8:30, and closed up shop by 9:00.
It's not surprising they start early though, when it's dark by 6:30 these days.
Kristi--what a great way to use up your extra candy (and make sure the kids don't just gorge themselves on it pointlessly). I sent all our extra with Nate to work this morning. I swear, if I saw another miniature Snickers bar, I was going to throw up.
Anali--maybe we should move down your way. It's nice to hear that somewhere in the U.S. trick-or-treating is still a big thing. I would hate to think that some day Halloween itself will be a holiday where nothing actually happens while the days leading up to it are full of random parties and "trunk or treat"'ing enterprises that approximate the candy-seeking fun of Halloween night, but are drained of the actual adventure and defiant thrill of roaming your neighborhood streets after dark, demanding treats and threatening tricks. I think kids need that kind of thing every now and again.
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