This is how I feel about Halloween

[Mego Magyar]

You're not alone Mike, I'm not big on Halloween. Years ago the neighborhood was "invaded" by pickup truck loads of people ( not just little kids ) trick-or-treating, since then we sit in the dark until it's over. Although last year I did buy a giant blowup pumpkin for the front yard. It was cheap and cute - I can't resist cheap and cute.

I live near Rutland, VT and for people into comics the annual Rutland Halloween Parade was featured in a number of comics back in the 1970's including Avengers, Thor, Batman, The Justice League.

[MIB41]

I absolutely LIVE for Halloween. It's the one time of the year when the adults can join the kids in make believe. It's a great time. Every year I create this very small, but effective, scene in my front yard. I'm Michael Myers laying in front of a tomb flanked on either side by Tiki torches. I lay there wearing gloves with leaves bunched up around me and a few on top of me to sell the idea I'm not real...until I'm approached. We get nearly 200 kids. And every year they go through the ritual of seeing if I'm still fake. And when I'm not they go screaming into the streets (scores of them) as I get up and walk, in earnest, towards them. Fortunately I have GREAT neighbors who are good sports and come out to watch. The whole thing is wrapped up by a little after 9. So the screams don't linger too long into the night. And no... I don't move at all when their tiny tikes. We want everyone to feel they can approach.

But I will say there was this one little girl that came up dressed in a princess dress. Just the textbook image of an angel. I didn't move a bit. But she kept looking at me as she got her candy. Then she made her way up our driveway and stopped again to look at me. I remained still. Then she got out in the street and stopped once more. At this point, I felt inclined to answer what her imagination was begging to see. So very innocently, I lifted up one arm and waved at her. So as not to freak her out too bad. This little "angel" proceeds to drop both bags of candy and lift her hands, both fisted and say the following... "Do you want a piece of this? Huh?! C'mon. Do you want a piece of this?" I LOST IT! I rolled over on my stomach howling with laughter. I can't imagine the response I'll get from her this year. God help me.

[kennermike]

I absolutely LIVE for Halloween. It's the one time of the year when the adults can join the kids in make believe. It's a great time. Every year I create this very small, but effective, scene in my front yard. I'm Michael Myers laying in front of a tomb flanked on either side by Tiki torches. I lay there wearing gloves with leaves bunched up around me and a few on top of me to sell the idea I'm not real...until I'm approached. We get nearly 200 kids. And every year they go through the ritual of seeing if I'm still fake. And when I'm not they go screaming into the streets (scores of them) as I get up and walk, in earnest, towards them. Fortunately I have GREAT neighbors who are good sports and come out to watch. The whole thing is wrapped up by a little after 9. So the screams don't linger too long into the night. And no... I don't move at all when their tiny tikes. We want everyone to feel they can approach.

But I will say there was this one little girl that came up dressed in a princess dress. Just the textbook image of an angel. I didn't move a bit. But she kept looking at me as she got her candy. Then she made her way up our driveway and stopped again to look at me. I remained still. Then she got out in the street and stopped once more. At this point, I felt inclined to answer what her imagination was begging to see. So very innocently, I lifted up one arm and waved at her. So as not to freak her out too bad. This little "angel" proceeds to drop both bags of candy and lift her hands, both fisted and say the following... "Do you want a piece of this? Huh?! C'mon. Do you want a piece of this?" I LOST IT! I rolled over on my stomach howling with laughter. I can't imagine the response I'll get from her this year. God help me.

If I dress like Mike Myers you have to shave your head and come as Loomis

[MIB41]

If I dress like Mike Myers you have to shave your head and come as Loomis

That's a lot of hair to shave!

[Hector]

Halloween was my second favorite holiday after Christmas as a kid.

It was really magical for me...trick o' treating was just magical.

Loved to dress up (Casper the friendly Ghost was my fave costume)...take my little sister along...and safely went door-to-door for awesome candy (school was cool too, especially with the Halloween-themed activities and decorations)...but that was in the safer and more wholesome era of the late 60s. Once we moved to Mexico in 1970...it was over...for Mexico...as a whole...prefer to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)...a more grownup adult fare...which I didn't like nearly as much.

Once we came back to the States in 1977 (just in time for the Star Wars craze, lol)...I was already 15 years old...too old for trick 'o treating.

But I still hung on for my love of Halloween.

Movies of course was one outlet for that...and teenaged parties was another...but I never quite achieved that same magical feeling I had for Halloween as a kid. How could I?

However...I still attained some fun with it...as I used to hand over candy to the next generation of kids...I used to wear Mexican Luchador masks...and it was fun.

But as years have passed...less and less kids showed up for trick 'o treating...to the point where nowadays...no one bothers anymore...seems like it's a dying practice...with streets being a lot less safe now...kids getting into other forms of entertainment...whether it's video games, internet...or whatever...I dunno...only the really young little kids seem to get a kick out of Halloween...but many times the parents simply don't bother with it anymore.

A sign of different times indeed.

I also don't have any kids...I'm sure if I had any...I'd be definitely more into it.

Now instead of Halloween being my second favorite holiday after Christmas...it's now in this order:

1. Thanksgiving (can't beat family and friends having an awesome turkey dinner)
2. Christmas (still holds some magic, even though I'm agnostic, I do feel kinda spiritual, and I love Christmas songs believe it or not...I also like to hand out gifts)
3. Fourth of July (BBQ and beer...what's not to like...lol)
4. Halloween (I still get a "little" bit of that old feelings...ever so slightly...mostly through monster movie watching)

[megomania]

Halloween is great, especially when the local Fred Meyer rolls out the end-cap dedicated to Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry cereals..of course I had to buy one of each My all-time favorite cereal as a kid..

-Chris