Published: November 01, 2007 04:49 pm         

I SAY: Who stole Halloween?

Halloween is not the same.

Never thought I would be sitting here thinking about the "good old days," and worse yet, I fear I am become Walter Matthau's character in "Grumpy Old Men."

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays because it comes at the beginning of my favorite season — fall.

Probably growing up in Minnesota helped foster my fondness for the harvest season, because up in the land of Green Giant, the fall harvest was everything to farmers. And it truly was a time of celebration.

My first memory of Halloween goes back to the age of four or five when we lived in Pella, Iowa. I don't remember if I went trick or treating, but I remember the visit of two trick or treaters to our home. My parents and a visiting couple were sitting in the living room when two youngsters showed up at the house, knocked on the door, and yelled, "Trick or Treat!"

My folks let them in and my dad and his friend began grilling them as to what the trick would be for their treat. Not sure why this is burned in my memory, except for the fact that the two guys attempted headstands in our livingroom, to the delight of my folks and their company. And they left with their treat.

Thank goodness no one ever asked me for a headstand in exchange for a Snickers bar.

Fast forward to last night.

Susan and I did not have as many trick or treaters as we anticipated and I credit that to the number of fall festivals and trunk-or-treat festivities held by area churches, coupled with the growingly popular Boo Bash in downtown Crossville. Perhaps Halloween falling on a school night in the middle of the week also contributed.

It seems, from early reports, that mischief around the county was also down.

For the most part, visitors to our home were little ghouls and goblins who were accompanied by a parent or two. There seemed to be as many dads taking youngsters door-to-door as moms and that was a good thing.

I was amused at four young teens who knocked on the door. When I answered, I grabbed the candy jar and immediately delved out goodies to each one.

"Thanks," one surprised teen said. "But can we have some water?"

They didn't come for the treats, although they gladly took them. They just wanted to quench their thirst.

It was a bit troubling that some children who did show up held grocery bags full of candy open, asking for more.

Here is where I turn into Walter. When we were allowed to trick or treat, we were also instructed to stop at a handful of places, get some candy and quit. It was never about volume.

And we always went to homes of people we knew. Family friends, people we went to church with, acquaintances from my dad's work. This allowed us to show off our homemade costumes. We never had store-bought costumes.

Equally disturbing were grown men dressed as women accompanied by children who were trick or treating with the kids. They held their pillow cases out to accept candy, just like the youngsters did. I find that a bit disturbing. Just as much as the juice bottle and candy wrappers in the front yard the following morning.

I still like Halloween. Around the corner is Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving truly is a favorite. Guess I am just sentimental, but Thanksgiving to me is exactly as the title implies. So maybe I am not Walter, afterall.

Today I will go home and pick up the trash left in the yard from the night before. Not too big a deal, considering what could have been done.

And I will anxiously await Thanksgiving, when, "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessings."