By VERNA BROCK
I hope everyone had a fun Halloween night last week! Ed and I enjoy manning the candy distribution station at Casa Simmons in The Flowers subdivision every year. Since granddaughter Avery is still young enough to enjoy the Trick-or-Treat ritual, we set up in the driveway every year and hold down the fort while she and her family go out. Ed found a “jukebox” of sorts, and hand-picked appropriately spooky music to play all evening long. Everything from the theme songs to “The Munsters” to “The Monster Mash” to the overture from “The Phantom of the Opera” kept the mood cheery and upbeat.
Since Wakulla County has added nine new subdivisions in the past year or so, speculation had it the crowds might be smaller. It may be possible fewer revelers walked through the neighborhood, but there were still hundreds of ghosts and ghoulies visiting us. People traveled from near and far to collect sweet treats and enjoy the October night air.
I really get a bang from seeing everyone from toddlers, to teens, to parents, dressing up as their favorite cartoon characters, comic book heroes, or terrifying spectres. Costumes have surely come a very long way from the nylon and plastic ones I wore as a child. There was at least one inflatable T-Rex waddling from door to door, and several masks that lit up with multi-colored lights.
The teens were universally polite and obviously having as much fun as the much younger crowd. The very young ones were wide-eyed and excited by everything they saw. Prompted by parents, these littles would say “Thank you!” and “Happy Halloween!” as they prepared to dash off to the next front door. Some were transported on golf-carts dressed up in bright lights, others arrived on foot, but everyone was very watchful of traffic as they carefully made the rounds. All in all, it was a festive night, full of fun and excitement for everyone.
Part of our annual tradition is the delicious chili Anna makes for the family. It was definitely welcomed this past Friday. What started as cool became downright cold once the sun went down, and nothing is better than a hot chili supper to warm your bones.
After a couple of hours of passing out treats, Ed and I were ready to head to the barn. Another Halloween in the books, and maybe a few more to look forward to before our grands are all “too mature” to partake. Once that fateful day arrives, I have an idea or two to keep the spirit of Halloween alive. But I’m in no hurry to rush the process. We’re having too much fun in the here and now.
A word of thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Wakulla United Methodist Church food pantry garage sale. More than $2,000 was raised! This will help make the upcoming holidays a little brighter and less stressful for the families the pantry serves each month.
As I mentioned last week, groceries aren’t getting any cheaper, while the need keeps growing! Your help will really make a big difference for a lot of our neighbors.
