Halloween Wrap

Lilly and Ann went trolling for candy on Halloween with a friend of Lilly's and that friend's neighbors, a couple of older girls, in a neighborhood not too distant from home, but not our block. When they got home loaded with sweets, they were too tired to make the rounds on our block, and I didn't insist out of some sense of spending precious time with my kids. I've done the rounds with them before, and probably will again.

About 15 kids showed up at our door, which is a fairly light turnout, and mostly before dark. The majority were smaller kids, too, which is good. If you're in high school, you're too old to trick or treat. That's the way it was in 1975 and that's the way it should be now.

I dispensed "fun size" Snickers, 3 Musketeers, KitKats and Milky Ways. Maybe I should have bought a gross of Snickers or somesuch at Costco and given those away -- full-sized bars are much more fun than "fun size." Every kid, and I mean every kid, carried a pillow case for their candy. What's up with that? Even Lilly asked to carry one, and we obliged her, and also gave one to Ann. She says her teacher suggested it. Maybe there was a memo from the PTA.

Only one costume stood out among the usual suspects. One of the last kids to come by, a boy of about 12, wore a fairly realistic nun's habit. Make what you will of that.

Lilly and Ann's hauls included -- not an exhaustive list, and in no special order -- Skittles, Act II Butter Mini Bag microwavable popcorn, KitKats, Reese's (original and pieces), Snickers, Summer Harvest bite size mini pretzels (with a witch on the bag), Ritz Bits peanut butter crackers, Sour Punch Twists, Nacho Cheese Doritos, Yogos Rollers (what?), Milk Duds, Milky Way, Mike and Ike Original Fruits, Twix, Swedish Fish, Now and Later banana candy (product of Mexico), PayDay, Gummy Skulls, Hershey's, 3 Musketeers, Smarties, M&Ms, Heath bars, Jolly Rancher, Butterfinger, Junior Mints, Mr. Goodbar, Baby Ruth, Kasugai litchi candy and Bourbon Raisin Sand (Japanese candies), Starburst, Nerds brand gum balls, Almond Joy, 100 Grand, Tootsie Rolls, Creme Savers Apple Pie a la Mode, Cry Baby Bubble Gum, Sweet Tarts, Goetze's, Blow Pops, Oreos, Dots, peppermints, Wonka Bottle Caps, and various lolly pops and gum varieties. Some of the first-string chocolates -- Snickers, 3 Musketeers, et al. were regular size. One of the full-sized Snickers had "Green Shrek® Filling! Same Snickers® Taste!"