I have noticed a disturbing trend over
the past decade or so. At first I thought it was the neighborhood I
lived in because the apartment complex in Chicago and the east
Cleveland suburb really weren't the best places for adults to walk
around in during the daylight. Never mind going out after the sun
hit the ground. There has been a distinct lack of participation
during Halloween. I noticed it in Maple Heights where we were one of
maybe five houses on the entire street that had candy available. I
would see neighbors actively not participating. It was
disheartening.
This most awesomest of all holidays
over all cultures and all time. You get to dress up as what ever.
You get to go around as a scary monster, super hero, sexy nurse or
greek goddess. What ever you want. Then you get to go out to your
neighbors and say, “Trick or Treat.” I remember in my day it
really didn't mean much. It was just what you said at Halloween.
You went up to the house with friends or kids you never saw before
and rung the doorbell. When the door was opened it was always at
least some courtesy and a piece of candy. There was that one person
that gave out a toothbrush or some floss. Damn dentists. There were
always a couple of houses that did not have the front light on.
Having lived in a military house and area I understood that not
everybody was available at night. But those houses were far and few
between. I even remember the one house that had nobody their but
they left the candy out on the honor system. It was the 80's and a
different time.
In any case, it was in those days back
in Norfolk that I was out trick or treating and I came upon this one
house. The poor guy had his light on but was not prepared for
Halloween. I went up to the door and started the process. It got
rudely interrupted when he kindly apologized for not be ready. I am
sure he had an amazing excuse that totally absolved him of the error
but that did not matter to him. He explained to me that since he had
no treat he would have to pick trick. Imagine my elementary age
confusion and the look on my face must have been not only priceless
but polymorphic.
It started to make sense as to what
was going on. We younger kids (back then) only really wanted the
treat and those older kids (now and then) may have tended to the
trick. I was dumfounded at the time because I was not prepared for
any answer. My thought was light on means candy. So in this
particular moment I really did not have a trick available. On that
day I got plenty of candy and the light to the front porch turned off
shortly after I left that mans doorstep. I am not sure if I noticed
any that year but over the years I saw a few tricks occur. Most of
them were late in high school and college. They had nothing to do
with not having candy but more to do with having good old dirty fun.
I can only assume that back in the day
there were tricks on those houses that did not participate got
something. Some good old fashion fun like shaving cream under the
car door handles. How would we all like that on all saints day. I
mean it could have been some good loud noises later at night. I can
imagine that the neighborhood dentist would not have been so bold to
give out toothpicks and Listerine. That kind of crap would have come
with a good rolling of the every tree in the yard and possibly the
front porch.
Back to today. Or ten years ago when
the street lights seemed to be turned off. There seems to no
consequence for ignoring such a wonderful holiday. The masses have
forgotten that they had a choice and by not participating they had
their choice made. Trick. I know there are those that say it is
mean or it is wrong. Some might call it vandalism or hooliganism.
There are those arseholes that will cry about how it is not funny or
a game but a crime. To all of you poo poo heads out there I say. It
is on like Donkey Kong. You chose trick and we who believe in the
celebration of all hallows eve will be out there to help.
Here it is. Lets teach the best
lesson of all from this day. Have fun. Forget all the rest. Pursue
happiness and get it on. If you live in one of those neighborhoods
that is mostly dark (front porches). If you see your neighbors being
humbugs and thinking it is okay to be fun killers then help the kids
out some more. Tell them that the dentist is immune because it is
his job but then.... Give them some candy and a mini can of shaving
cream. Or invest in a Sam's club package of toilet paper and unleash
the kids. It is migration season for some areas of the country.
Hand out some bags of bird seed for them to spread in the lawns of
the trickees. Got something else. Use it. Suggest it. No flaming
bags of dog stuff.
If you really want to have a good warm
and fuzzy about all of this. Think of this a good social
engineering. At some point businesses, the church, government or the
king of gods Zeus has started to suck the fun out of life. We have
fun but we are not really bringing fun into our lives and the lives
around us. We have been pushed further and further toward misery.
Our own misery has demanded company so why should anhybody get candy
for those kids. We don't take time to ensure that others are feeling
real joy. Hell it is so uncommon that not many even get to
experience okay joy. Now it is time that we who are still acquainted
with joy and our inner child bring it all back. Lets bring back the
day of the Trick.
Good News from way back in the week of 17 Oct 2015
