Blogs

Happy almost Halloween all you parents!

Hey, I'm all for the little ones having a good time although I still think we need to design children's costumes out of their winter coats. Here in Colorado it always seems to snow hard on the festive night.

This year Halloween falls on a Thursday, which means Friday is gonna be a difficult one for school teachers what with all the kids bouncing off the walls from massive sugar overload.

I used to stay in and hand out the goodies, but I was the one in the neighborhood who actually doled out toothbrushes or cheese sticks. Needless to say, I wasn't the most well liked among the kiddies!

I remember Halloween was a little different when I lived in the United Kingdom. There, the children received mostly apples and nuts (and these kids whine about my cheese sticks). I guess it was in keeping with tradition when the adults were offered a drink at each house they went to - a nip of brandy here, a shot of whiskey there. By the time I reached the fourth house, I was pretty smashed! I staggered up to the door and called out, "triCkur TreAt - an' make it a double."

This year I decided I'd go around with my grandchildren. I hope they won't be too scared. They've seen me without my makeup so they should be good to go.

I've never been real big on Halloween, mostly because I don't want to bother with the festivities of carving pumpkins and decorating. I hate anything pumpkin and can't really handle the smell of apple cider. I suppose I should try and get into the groove of things for the sake of the grandkids though. I guess dressing up as a tired, worn-out mother of four just doesn't have the horror it used to. I've overdone it.

Nah, I really need to rev up the scare tactics.

I know! Maybe I'll hang my credit report in my front window - that oughta do it.

- Mari' Emeraude

Mari' Emeraude is a writer and poet from Denver, Colorado.