Day 533

Taking the elevator to cheer people up on this Halloween Day! Ranger was not too fond of his costume (The hat/stem was more than he would tolerate!) but he was a trooper! The hospital was crowded and EVERYONE had a smile for this big guy!

Tonight, the trick-or-treaters will ring the doorbell and hold out their bags. Our neighborhood crew is walking around together, so I will leave the candy bowl in the capable hands of my husband and follow the children from house to house.

Back when I was a child in the same neighborhood, we were allowed to visit homes in our block, with a few across the street. It was a more gentle time in some ways, so we went out on our own. Almost every family had a grandma living with them or next door, but Addie Erickson belonged to all of us! Each year, she would make popcorn balls, while the rest of the homes shared candy. I had a love/hate relationship with those popcorn balls. They were so enticing...wrapped in brightly colored cellophane, I couldn't wait to open them. When I was home, that treat was always my first choice to grab from my Halloween treasures. However, they always hurt my mouth with their rough texture. I didn't care. It was tradition, after all!

Tonight, we will bundle up and face the cold and wind for our little ones. Today's world does not feel as safe and simple, so I will join the parents and grandparents who keep a vigilant eye on our precious crew. It will be worth every step, but I will be glad to get back inside and snuggle in to watch the last of the trick-or-treaters.

Then, it's down the basement steps with the pumpkins and up with the Christmas trees! I may live in the Halloween Capital of the World, but I am a Christmas Girl at heart! I can't wait!