We jokingly report that our house, childless and HomoDommi-less (as a neighborhood parental mover and shaker), was shunned last night. Certainly, we got no trick-or-treaters until 7:00 p.m. on the dot, long after dark, and they stopped at 8:10 p.m., with at most 18 children in between. Last year, we had a steady stream from before true dusk until after 9:00.The local news stations were reporting in advance that "children will not be trick-or-treating for fear of H1N1 flu", and giving guidelines for how not to catch the flu, or prevent the spread of it (e.g., drop candies into open bags, rather than letting the children run their bug-infested little hands through the basket). On the other hand, our house is next to a huge empty darkened church, across from a parking lot, not other candy-giving houses, and many of the neighbors on our block had darkened porches (opting out? Or off to parties?). So our few treaters are due, less likely to fear of flu, and more likely to lack of pickin's on the block. Certainly the next block over was a blaze with lights, spooky sound effects, and streams of marching, laughing children.
Boise, apparently, takes Halloween very seriously. One of the major residential boulevards, Harrison (two blocks over from the Family's rental mansion, and the local equivalent of Summit Avenue in St. Paul), dresses up for the occasion in the way that Peaceable-Tate's block does, and has a similar parade of hundreds of trick-or-treaters. Rumor tells that houses that turn off their lights are considered open season to egg and toilet paper. So the Boise crew suited up and marched over the two blocks to Halloweenland (Family Man stayed behind with Mater Familias, anxious to keep the lights on at home).
Reports were mixed. On the one hand, one household hired actors to perform the Thriller dance, every 5 minutes throughout the night. Another household had a giant flame-breathing dragon threatening a damsel in distress. There was much to see and hear. On the other hand, in exchange for the spectacle, children were not given candy of any quality. This year, there were no surprise King Size Chunky Bars, as our kids have gotten down the street here in Portland -- in Boise they got little hard candies, and more irritating yet: stale candy that obviously was leftover from Easter. You would think if they could afford Thriller dancers for the whole night, they could afford fresh chocolate, too. (Although, the Damsel and the Dragon exhibit handed out gold-covered chocolate coins, which won Girl-Child's approval.)
Boy-child modified his annual ghoul costume with flowing blood this year, as is demonstrated in the video below. It's a marvelous gruesome grossout, capped by the sight of the magician behind the magic.
The Gruesome Ghoul
4 comments:
The COG drove through Salem in the early hours before the 48hrs of madness. "Witches" in costumes were already wandering the streets. Upset that a dark period in American history (at least in Salem) has been turned into commercial exploitation with total misunderstanding of the witch trials.
Our count was between 800 and 1000 kids this year. Probably a record, which is surprising: the streets are still somewhat torn up, it was pretty chilly, and then the H1N1 scare.
The 2161 Sargent Avenue theme was 'Men in Black'. 4 of us in black suits, white shirts, narrow ties, and sun glasses. Foam-core alien spaceships with twinkling lights, one alien cut-out near the silvery mother ship.
Kate may have pictures.
PS. No one came as an H1N1 virus.
Sarah and Dave's Neighborhood was hopping too. Though it was traditional with good candy handed out and carved pumpkins for decoration. Every 3rd house was dark. It was never the less busy and festive. Ewww Easter candy?
The Bee:So sweet and adorable.
The Ghoul: Revolting and terrifying (in a good way)
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