Halloween 2022. Two years ago, we set up a table at the bottom of our porch steps and laid out candy on the table for kids to grab. We sat back on the porch and restocked as needed. That was our COVID Halloween solution. Last year, things were pretty normal at Halloween. Justin and I always sit out on the porch together and give out candy. It’s just one of those little things that we enjoy doing, admiring the kids’ creativity with their costumes and seeing them light over full-size candy bars (until we run out and then it’s mostly the snack size Reese’s or Snickers- perhaps you shouldn’t visit our house if you have a peanut allergy).
We were in South Carolina last weekend, visiting my friend Grace and her family. Grace told us how she had bought A LOT of Halloween candy early because she had heard that Hershey’s *might* have a shortage because of supply chain issues. Turns out, there is still plenty of candy available in stores. Justin was off all this past week. While wandering Target, he bought two shopping bags full of Halloween candy. They’re calling for rain tonight, and the Phillies have a World Series game tonight. We might be left with way more Halloween candy than we hoped to have after tonight. Good thing we only ever buy things we like.
Our assistant at work was asking me last week if Rookie enjoys the Trick-or-Treaters. I told her that he gets closed in our bedroom during that time. She then asked about Magic. I informed her that they are BOTH closed in our bedroom during Trick-or-Treating. She’s met them. This should be no surprise. Rookie would be howling constantly for 2-3 hours while Magic tried to break through our storm door to get to everyone outside. Although they’re better than they were in some situations, neither of them is capable of behaving acceptably for Halloween.
I don’t think we’re going to get our pumpkins carved this year. We bought them, and so far, they’re not *too* eaten up by the squirrels. We didn’t want to carve them too early because we didn’t want them to cave in on themselves or for the squirrels to really go to town on their own jack-o-lantern looks for them. Then we just kind of ran out of time this weekend. That’s OK though. As I said already, we don’t expect a huge turnout this year between the weather and baseball. I do, however, have to figure out where to stash the dead squirrel that is currently in a bag in a cat carrier on my porch.
The dead squirrel is not intended to be part of Halloween. If people could watch where they’re driving (although I’ve seen my fair share of squirrels in the road, so it may be partially his own doing that he’s dead), he wouldn’t be in this predicament at all. The dogs and I returned from our walk this afternoon, and he was laying in the street directly in front our house, trying to lift his head. I put the dogs inside and gathered some towels and the carrier to transport him to work and euthanize him, but he passed before I got back outside. I wasn’t about to leave him there to continue to be pulverized by additional vehicles or for kids to step over all night long. However, I don’t want him sitting in my car until tomorrow or out in the rain overnight… Veterinarian problems, I suppose.
Anyways, I hope that everyone has a fun, safe, dry Halloween that’s just the right amount of spooky for individual tastes! I don’t follow baseball, but good luck to the Phillies! There may be a lot of heavy things happening in the world between political unrest at home, worries about viruses, war overseas, etc., but Philly sports sure are one bright thing in this part of the planet right now. (GO BIRDS!)
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ~L.M. Montgomery
