“Halloween is coming; the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in the old man’s hat!”
Halloween has always been a fun day for children and adults alike. There’s something about getting dressed up in a costume and being someone or something else.
Back in the day, store-bought costumes had masks with that stretchy string attached so it could stay on the head. Most masks didn’t have a hole at the mouth, so usually the inside of the mask would get all steamy.
I remember wearing my Halloween costume to school. Most times I could tell what classmate was dressed in what costume. Every so often, there would be that mysterious-looking character that wouldn’t reveal his or her true identity.
I could recall one year there was such a character. Nobody could guess who it was. The person wouldn’t talk or even hand gesture. At first it was funny, but then it got frustrating. Eventually, when it was time for all to reveal themselves, the mystery person turned out to be one of the faculty members.
The part of the day I loved most was the parade. At a designated time, the costumed students would head outside the school, one class at a time. Parents would line the route taking pictures with the good old Instamatic camera. Today, it’s tons of cellphones shooting video or stills.
Some Halloween years were warm enough that we only needed to wear a light sweater under our costumes, but other years, we’d wear a jacket over it. That was usually a bummer.
How many remember when trick-or-treating was more than one day? I’m not sure what we were thinking, but we’d canvas the neighborhood a day or two before Halloween. Most residents were not prepared, but often would give us a quarter or an apple and off we went.
There was always the confusion of what age do one stops dressing up — after all, it was all about the candy!
After I hung up my trick-or-treat costume, there are a few years that went by before I could take part in that ritual again. That, of course, is when I had my own children.
For so many years, it was all about taking the kids to the homes of relatives, usually that meant filling up the tank for the road trip.
Some parents like to dress up along with their kids, but I wasn’t one of them – nope, that wasn’t my job. My job was to be the official taster of the candy bounty at the end of the night. I had to make sure all the candy was not tainted or stale.
Everyone has their own Halloween memories and even with everything that may have gone on in my life since childhood, all the years that have passed, I always can recall my own experiences.
The costumes may have changed from pirates and princesses years ago to Transformers, Ninja Turtles and many more, but the spirit of Halloween has not changed at all.
River rivals
I can’t believe another football season is coming to an end and the Pittston Area vs. Wyoming Area game is in the books for the 50th time.
I wrote this column one day before the game was played, but I’m hoping it was a fun game with the usual competitive edge we see each year.
Wyoming Area had a successful football campaign this year, Pittston Area not so much, but as we all know, season records are thrown out no matter how successful.
The only thing I know about the game is, with the rival game being played on the hill at Charley Trippi Stadium, it was bound to be chilly.
Congratulations to both teams for working hard and giving it their best.
Quote of the week
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” – Emily Post, American social behavior specialist.
Thought of the week
“Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to man.” – Leon Trotsky
Bumper sticker
“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.” – Pablo Picasso, Spanish artist.
