Beech Tree News Network

Halloween is over, and I’m not sad. This holiday is not my favorite even though the decorative colors are pretty. I don’t dislike Halloween, but I also don’t look forward to it. Many people celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, visiting haunted houses, and watching horror movies. As a child, I trick-or-treated; my children also trick-or-treated; and now, my grandchildren trick-or-treat. Children like to dress up, and they like candy. So, Halloween is a popular holiday.
Once during my teenage years, I celebrated the holiday by soaping a few windows. I remember running through the grass in the dark. It’s a wonder that I didn’t twist an ankle or fall on my face. I sure couldn’t see where I was going! I was with some friends, and we didn’t do any permanent damage. But, we also didn’t tell our parents (Sorry, Mom!).
As a parent, I usually stayed home on Halloween in order to pass out candy. My late husband was the parent walking door-to-door with our children. He actually enjoyed the ritual. The first year we lived in Morgantown, we ran out of candy – even after a second trip to the store. The number of trick-or-treaters has declined in recent years, possibly because parents have grown more cautious and take their children only to the homes of people they know.
This year, my grandchildren enjoyed the holiday. The three youngest ones probably had the best time. One wore dirt bike gear, another was a lovely witch, and the third was Jessie the cowgirl (Toy Story movie character). Our kindergartener trick-or-treated at the middle school and the high school with her class on the Friday before Halloween, so her witch outfit served double duty. And, my older grandchildren still enjoy the bounty of the holiday – the candy. So, this Halloween was another happy one for our family.
One of my Halloween memories is not so pleasant. On Halloween night during my freshman year of high school, one of my cousins – a senior at the time - was out with his girlfriend and another couple. It was a cold, rainy night. As my cousin drove around a curve, his car went off the road. Following the wreck, my cousin helped to see that his passengers were checked for injuries and received the care they needed. No one appeared to be critically injured. My aunt and uncle insisted that my cousin stay overnight in the hospital for observation. That night, his brain began to swell, then he went into a coma and died. Later, I heard that oil had been poured onto the road as a prank. I don’t know; hopefully, the accident was simply the result of weather conditions. Regardless, my cousin’s death was a tragic loss.
For me, Halloween is a secular holiday including imaginary spooks and handing out candy. And, though I love the decorations, I don’t grieve its passing.