Ghosts of Halloween Past

I'm gonna cast my mind way back today...and at my age that ain't easy. As we approach Halloween a couple of interweb sites I belong to are cranking themselves up over all things boo-y. Theme Thursday has chosen Halloween as it's theme today and of course Humor Bloggers Dot Boo has got their freak on - literally - all week. Drop over to both sites and follow the links for some scary stuff.

Woah, woah, woah...not yet. Read my stuff first, then go there to get your monster mash.

Halloween in my day used to be the time of year dentists just loved. I recall one year, several months past Halloween when I made a trip to the scariest place on earth for me - Dr. Hacking - only to discover the kindness of my neighbours and two months of lugging their largess to school for snacks had resulted in 17 cavities. After 17 fillings you can bet there was a whole lot of shaking going on.

Yet if that was the worst that could happen, so what. We didn't have razor blades and pins stuck in apples back then. No, we had Tootsie Rolls, jujubes, candy kisses, licorice and Double Bubble gum. It was a whole other time. And I don't recall parents having to take me and my friends around the block. Hell, if you were six there weren't tricks. Only treats.

As an adult, I took my kids out on Halloween for years, until they begged me to stop. You see, I might have brushed my teeth more often but I still loved treats. (And after 57 Halloweens it's a wonder I still have teeth.) But when you take your kids around the block you get to sample their candy on the ruse that you're inspecting it for "bad things". "Okay, let's see. It's time to make sure there's no bad things in your bag. Nom, nom, nom." I was taking my kids round the block literally AND metaphorically.

Of course they're all grown up now and the grandkids are in the picture. Hmm... wonder if my daughter wants me to take the boys "round the block" this year.

*Photo courtesy of Late B(l)oomer