Shinn the Writer

The Delicate Halloween Balance

 

As a kid, I used to love Halloween. Not so much the costume thing, but getting together with friends and going out to beg. My first year out was actually a disaster. I was four. I had the classic four-year-old ghost costume, but my mother had left the hem too long and I kept tripping over it, losing a substantial amount of candy as I went. But she learned and five was better. My parents fully redeemed themselves later when she and dad didn’t pass out candy, but rather served cider and donuts. I was mortified. NOBODY did THAT! My dad looked at me and just smiled: “Just you wait.” We were the most popular stop in the neighborhood! I should note that October 30 is my dad’s birthday and I drank a toast to him. He would have been 113.

 

I never did get the costume part of Halloween down, but my current surgeon costume is really pretty good. I’ve found that it’s fun to wear a costume when on the giving end as well as when getting the goods. 

 

This year I stayed home so I could give out candy to the kids. The weather was nice, so I sat outside to let everyone know for sure that I was participating. I’d made my trip to the grocery store the day before to buy the candy – three bags of the miniature candy bars that I liked so much in my begging days. I say “liked” because I still like them, but check my “Physical” page. I’m down to around 195 pounds and still trending in the right direction. Those little candy bars could easily derail my progress. So my dilemma was whether to overbuy and be assured of being popular but risking a return to obesity as I ate the excess, or being unpopular as my supplies ran out before the beggars did.

 

Last year for some reason, the turnout was quite small. I don’t know why. I think it was just my street. After last year’s efforts, I should have asked neighbors about the parade that is held around the corner, a gathering spot for pre-begging. I would have found out how big things were overall, but I didn’t. I just bought less than last year, but allowing for more than last year’s turnout.

 

The parade was held at 5:30, so a little before six, I began to get visitors. I wanted to mix the different types of candy so at least for a time kids could choose. Also, the Reese’s have peanut butter in them and I didn’t want kids who were allergic to have an option of that or nothing. That would be horrible! And I had at least one, though there were probably others who silently ignored them as they rummaged through my offerings which I’d put in a fairly large bowl. I filled up the bowl with about half the candy I’d bought, so I could see how fast the supply was dwindling. I would distribute the other half accordingly. 

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I generally allowed two for each beggar, but more often than not, either the kids (or their parents) restricted them to only one. The exception was a poor kid (who was dressed as Kenny from South Park) who trudged up 25 steps to the house across the street, which is vacant. I tried but was unable to get his attention. I made sure he got three!