I remember the frantic hours spent in preparation of two little ones going out to claim their rightful due of candy. Whether it was the make-up or the costume, it was never as easy as just putting on a piece of clothing. We always ordered pizza so I wouldn't have to worry about dinner and because after awhile, it became a tradition.
Many years we we would let the kids travel around to the immediate neighbors but then take them up to our church for the annual Harvest festival. There they were able to play games, see friends, and collect candy. Most years, Don and I would work a booth or food area for a short amount of time. Even when the kids were too old to go trick or treating, we would all go to the festival, work, and join in the fellowship.
There was a couple of years that the kids spent more time trick or treating in the neighborhood than at the church. They were older and we went out with other families or they went with friends.
Even though each year looked slightly different in where the kids got their candy or big differences in what their costume was, the was usually one constant... and that was the weather. Halloween in Denver is almost always cold, if not snowing. If you're going out to trick or treat, coats would cover the costumes that parents worked so hard on. And who wants to put on snow boots, coats, and gloves to walk out in the frigid weather?
Amazingly, this year's Halloween weather is gloriously warm. I believe the temperature today was in the mid 70s. Once the sun went down, it was probably somewhere in the low 60s or high 50s, which believe me, is balmy for anyone who has lived in this area for any amount of time.
I'm sure the swarms of ghosts and goblins, spidermen and princesses, lions and fairies - and their parents - appreciate the warm weather. I appreciated being able to see each and every costume.
Ah, such great memories.... oh.... there goes my doorbell again....
