Last night was Halloween; but, you couldn't tell!
For several years, we have ignored the opportunity to rot the teeth of the local youth. It is fairly easy to accomplish: If you don't intend to give out treats, you simply leave your porch light off and pretty much everybody stays away. It doesn't work 100%, but it does work well. However, one usually gets an occasional rap at the door, one hears excited children and commanding parents talking in the street, and one sees the flash of headlights on the windows as the cars bringing distant sackers turn the corner in front of the house. But, this year - nothing!
I heard on the news Friday that 71% of people interviewed said they weren't going to give out treats this year. When I looked out at the neighborhood, it was even darker than usual - and usual is much darker than it was years ago when several windows would be lit at each house. I wonder whether Halloween has finally been brought to its knees for good, or whether the fear of H1N1 has caused parents to minimize their kids exposure to anyone they don't absolutely have to deal with.
