”There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book. “
The morning is dark and chilly. I went out for a few groceries just after nine. People were on the road. I was surprised. I’m never usually up that early so the activity was a bit mind boggling. I got a few groceries and treated myself. I bought a cinnamon donut. I treated the dogs and bought them big dog biscuits shaped like fire hydrants.
Yesterday I did chores. I deserve a commendation. Putting in the storm door just about finished me. It is so heavy I had to move it step by step up the cellar stairs then side by side to the door. Next was my step stool, a wonder. It replaced an old wooden one which put my life in jeopardy every time I used it, but it is heavy. I dragged it to the door. I took out the screen. I had to climb to the topmost rung. My life flashed before me. The storm just wouldn’t go in. Something was always in the way, one of those screw holders or the chain. I was determined, okay stubborn. Finally I did it. The crowning glory was putting my Halloween decoration on the door. It is a nun dressed in black with a skeleton face and hands. I call it Sister Helen after my aunt the nun.
When I was a kid, I always thought Columbus Day, always on October 12th, was the beginning of the holiday season. Halloween was next, and we had November 1st off, All Saints Day. We had to go to mass but that was a small price to pay for no school. I carried my bowl of candy, munched on it, watched a bit of TV and stayed around the house all day.
When I lived in Ghana, the only holiday we all had in common was Christmas. I explained Halloween to my students. They were amazed to think you got candy just by going door to door and saying trick or treat. What a marvelous holiday! I always had peppermint candy around the house, the sort which is round, striped red and white and melts in your mouth. On Halloween night I heard knocking on my door and the sort of caw caw sound Ghanaians, at least my students, made when knocking on doors when visiting. They all said, “Trick or treat.” I had taught them well. They each got a peppermint.
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October 13, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Hi Kat,
Today will be even warmer than yesterday. The predicted high has been reduced from 97° last night to just 95°.
As an adult, I hate the holiday season. It begins with Halloween, which is meaningless to me. This year my daughter will be with us and she will hand out the candy. My wife’s suggestion is that we buy a couple of boxes of Mar’s full size candy bars at Costco for $20 a box each and hand those out. When we run out, just turn off the outside lights and lock the door.
Halloween is closely followed by Thanksgiving, a holiday of stuffing yourself on food and American Football. This of course leads to the vast cornucopia of ridiculous over spending called the Winter Solstice holidays. My problem is that my Anniversary and my spouse’s birthday are all mixed in. Much too much thinking is involved to bring her happiness regardless what I do.
If we didn’t have the Winter Solstice holidays, then the entire global economy would fail. This year we also have a Presidential election, which in normal times is stressful enough, but with the orange pumpkin involved, it will be a mess if he either wins or loses.
October 13, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Hi Bob,
It stayed cool most of the day. It also stayed cloudy. Yesterday I was so busy that I didn’t do anything constructive today.
I love the holidays. I decorate my house as do my sisters. I suspect we have our mother’s gene. She made all the holidays fun. I have crows and rats and monsters for Halloween. I bought regular size Hersheys and a box of mixed Three Musketeers, Milky Way and Snickers. I’m hoping not to get too deep into the second box.
I love Thanksgiving, all the baking and the dinner. My mother and I worked together in the kitchen, and I always baked cookies like molasses and snickerdoodles. Christmas was always wonderful. When I was growing up, my parents didn’t have much money, but we always got wonderful gifts. My mother always had a Christmas club.
The holidays bring joy.