Trick Or Trout

Halloween is upon us once again. I loved going out as a child to collect candy. I loved going home afterward, dumping out my bag, and seeing what goodies I had received. I did enjoy participating as an adult as well. During the first few years of home ownership I passed out candy. Something was fishy though! More teenagers and grown adults came to my door than actual costumed children.

I expect children today to feel as I did way back when. I looked forward to putting on my costume after dinner. My pillow case was at the ready to receive its booty. If it was cold enough my coat ended up hiding my outfit. Only my mask gave any indication as to what character or monster I might be. The only adults seen were those accompanying children as they begged for candy.

In my neighborhood things are not the same. This is why I am not handing out treats this year. I have seen too many examples of what Halloween is not about. I have given out candy to teenagers in high school. There have been some who had no costume whatsoever. There have been adults who collected for themselves with no shame. Some have even asked for candy for unknown others who could not be bothered to show up.

This is just not what this holiday is supposed to be about. It takes a lot of nerve to show up at someone's door with no costume or asking for candy for another person. Sometimes they never even asked. They just stuck multiple containers in my face and expected me to donate candy to each one. The shameless attitudes just blew me away. The celebration of this holiday is not at all the way I remember it as a child.

I realize that I may be romanticizing my childhood. Maybe there were just as many teens and adults traipsing around from door to door. I doubt it. As time has gone on I have noticed in many areas that rules are bent and broken. How things were done in the past is not the way they are done now. Times change and I must change with them. I just wish that little things like Halloween would remain purely for the children. Let us give the little ones reason to enjoy being young!