Candy, Candy, Candy

Just a few hours remain until witches, ghosts and pirates wipe off their make-up, clutch melting chocolate bars and flip the calendar to a new page. Our porch light has been off signaling an end to the free calorie give-away. This year, Bob purchased the candy, all his personal favorites, a few weeks ago, confidant that he would be forced to consume piles of donations remaining in our home. He was shocked to see that by 6:00, the threat of a quick trip to the grocery store might be in order since the quantity of brightly packaged goodies was quickly deteriorating. Kids came in mass this year. It was not unusual to see ten or twelve revelers drooling at our door at the same time.

Poor Einstein! I was sure he would either have a heart attack from the deluge of strangers coming too close to our home or cause one of the costumed children to succumb to a similar fate as a white canine came crashing into the storm door. I tried multiple tactics to assist my pooch, all having the identical outcome of no change. I gave Einstein a treat each time the doorbell rang. I even asked kids to give him a treat. I tried the fiercer position of sending him to his cage for a lockdown period. I even sat on my front stoop with Einstein safely inside but able to watch the festivities. He was a mess! He’s now sound asleep on our family room couch glued to my husband’s side. His fatigue from hours of being a bodyguard and watchdog has taken its toll. He may not awaken until Thursday.

Halloween has gained prominence as a major celebration throughout the years. It’s not unusual to see homes glowing with orange lights and big blown-up witches and ghosts bouncing in the breeze. I love the little folk dressed as angels and ball players, but I’ve never liked those Scream masks with blood dripping down the side. Lately, vampires and axe murderers are too tame; zombies now slowly advance upon the wary. All I can say is “Yuck!”

My little grandsons were robots for the outside collection of wonderful goodies. Young ones quickly catch the idea of going up to any door and holding out a receptacle while colored rewards quickly drop inside. You can get a lifetime of tummy treats in just one swipe through the neighborhood. Parents walk much too slowly. Don’t they realize that even better gifts are just one more house down? Why can’t they hustle a little?

Of course, all kids lose a huge hunk of their loot upon returning home. Parents need to double-check each item for safety reasons and might just happen to eat a piece or two or twelve. I love that kids must only have two pieces before bedtime so parents can quietly huddle with the huge bowl of calories and whip through a pound or two with no regret.

So may you all enjoy the leftover treats or the bulging bag of pilfered candy. May it sweeten your upcoming November days. May the calories be carried away as the sugar slowly settles on someone else’s thighs. Can they have some medicinal value for chronic pain? Hmmmmm!

God Uses Chronic Pain to Show that Life is Good:

     -  With all this free candy for just knocking on a door, life has to be good.