Last Thursday was “designated” Trick-Or-Treat evening and I brought Patti home for an afternoon & evening of family time.

 

Halloween has always been a MAJOR Holiday for this family. At our previous home we would average 200+ trick or treat visitors on Halloween and host a neighborhood family party immediately afterwards.

 

Over the years, it was ideal for Patti as she ruled like a queen from her wheel chair on the deck while all paraded to her for treats. <grin>

 

Music, lighting, theatrical fog, and extensive decorations added to the allure. We never gave out candy, usually glow necklaces.

 

Lost in the display was the symbolism of a party of 6 ft skeletons sitting in chairs around a patio table I dragged into the front yard. There was always one open chair at the table. I’d begin my own ritual each Halloween evening by having a drink and spending some private time reminiscing with the skeletons.… In almost 15 years only one neighbor ever noticed that the number of skeletons changed or asked about the eccentric minutes.

 

Each skeleton represented a friend who had died too young. It was the only time we all could ever spend together.

 

Probably some dormant Druid gene in my DNA has always made my Halloween ‘edgier’ than Hallmark’s. In Irish mythology, the shield of Scathach is lowered for one night and the barriers fade between the world of the living and the spirits of the dead. Honored with food and entertainment the dead are welcomed for their brief visit home for one night during the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to celebrate the end of summer and coming of winter.

 

As a big fan of Winter, I’ve always been intrigued by this ancient three day bash to welcome Winter and what a long strange trip through history it has been to copy cats like Christianity’s All Soul’s Day to today’s costumed Trick-Or-Treat kids gorging on candy. <grin>

 

However here they have “designated” Trick Or Treat nights. Of course, that cannot be Halloween night because bad things might happen. The ultimate in local government fascism. <grin> The end result is we have hosted exactly three (3) trick or treat visitors in 4 years.

 

Patti remarked several times about being confused. Her observations however were quite correct, such as “Where is everyone?” Or, “are you sure it is the right night.”

 

For once I found myself trying to explain it had nothing to do with MS but the outside world was screwed up. Talk about challenging information to process. <grin> ... What we need is more Druids and less local government paranoid interference in the world. <GRIN>

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!