This time of year, I think about Halloween. Sometimes I think about it a little too much. I remember when I was a kid, my mom would make homemade sugar cookies with orange icing to pass out to trick-or-treaters. These days, if you get something homemade, it gets thrown away because it isn’t commercially packaged.
I was always excited to get home and go through my bag of goodies. I wanted to see how much of my favorite candy I got — Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers candy bars, Mr. Goodbars, KitKat bars, Hershey’s chocolate, homemade popcorn balls, and homemade Rice Krispie treats. Anything that was left I couldn’t care less about. Come to think of it, about half of what I got every year ended up as candy for my parents and grandparents. It didn’t bother me a bit.
These days, not only do the homemade treats get tossed out, some kids don’t get to eat candy at all. These days we know more about food allergies, so they have to be careful of the nuts, wheat, milk, etc. that prevent them from indulging in this holiday. This is why I love what the local library does, along with a few other people.
They leave a teal-blue pumpkin on their doorstep. This teal pumpkin is a very special pumpkin. It lets kids with allergies and their parents know that this spot gives out small toys instead of candy to children that are trick-or-treating. Now, kids with allergies can participate and keep what they get! For those who would like to participate with a teal pumpkin on their porch, take a look on the Oriental Trading Company website. I know they sell bulk candy, but you should be able to find some bulk toys to hand out, too.
It’s also this time of year when I think about getting some sort of Halloween tattoo. I know, I know, it’s such a silly idea. I probably won’t do it, but I really want to. It’s my favorite holiday, and I don’t mind showing it. Perhaps a bat on my ankle or a black cat on my wrist. Maybe a cute little witch on my shoulder.
Of course, if I got one, I’d have to put it in a spot that can be covered up with clothing. Employers frown upon tattoos that can be seen when you are working. Maybe I’d be better off without the lifelong commitment of a permanent tattoo when a kids’ sticker-type one can be easily washed off!
Photo by Fotolia/Pétur Ásgeirsson
