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.