lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters this year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be.
Shirley wrote: > lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters this > year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. > > Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. > We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between 6 and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, according to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and 'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of fetch). Definitely fun. -- nuts
"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... > Shirley wrote: >> lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters this >> year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. >> >> Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. > We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between 6 > and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, according > to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few > yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from > the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got > older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little > brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and > 'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school > principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for > introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few > adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't > understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the > mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the > door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they > watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at > somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so > they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to > returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. > > There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one > battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make > up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample > supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and > hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of > fetch). > > Definitely fun. You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? Did you live near some railroad tracks? We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to boot. > > -- > nuts >
"Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message news:6ljWi.47944$q7.24580@bignews3.bellsouth.net... > > "mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message > news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... > > Shirley wrote: > >> lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters this > >> year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. > >> > >> Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. > > We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between 6 > > and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, according > > to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few > > yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from > > the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got > > older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little > > brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and > > 'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school > > principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for > > introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few > > adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't > > understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the > > mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the > > door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they > > watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at > > somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so > > they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to > > returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. > > > > There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one > > battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make > > up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample > > supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and > > hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of > > fetch). > > > > Definitely fun. > > You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? > > Did you live near some railroad tracks? > > We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to boot. So did we; paper bags just split early in the evening. We had a custom that I've never seen anywhere else. Halloween was two nights. The first was trick or treating and the second was penny night where we pretty much covered the same territory but got pennies instead. Anyone else ever do that? Smee > > > > > > -- > > nuts > > > >
!* "Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message news:eKaWi.47730$q7.1484@bignews3.bellsouth.net... > lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters this > year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. > > Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. >
pscissons@sbcglobal.net wrote: > "Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message > news:6ljWi.47944$q7.24580@bignews3.bellsouth.net... > >>"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message >>news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... >> >>>Shirley wrote: >>> >>>>lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters > > this > >>>>year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. >>>> >>>>Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. >>> >>>We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between > > 6 > >>>and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, > > according > >>>to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few >>>yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from >>>the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got >>>older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little >>>brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and >>>'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school >>>principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for >>>introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few >>>adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't >>>understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the >>>mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the >>>door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they >>>watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at >>>somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so >>>they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to >>>returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. >>> >>>There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one >>>battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make >>>up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample >>>supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and >>>hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of >>>fetch). >>> >>>Definitely fun. >> >>You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? >> >>Did you live near some railroad tracks? >> >>We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to boot. > > > So did we; paper bags just split early in the evening. > > We had a custom that I've never seen anywhere else. Halloween was two > nights. The first was trick or treating and the second was penny night where > we pretty much covered the same territory but got pennies instead. Anyone > else ever do that? > I suspect penny night was originally connected to Guy Fawkes night (Nov. 5) to find the purchase of fireworks and other protest supplies - probably more common in areas with large English or Irish catholic populations. -- nuts
"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message news:fgksf9$sff$1@aioe.org... > pscissons@sbcglobal.net wrote: >> "Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message >> news:6ljWi.47944$q7.24580@bignews3.bellsouth.net... >> >>>"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message >>>news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... >>> >>>>Shirley wrote: >>>> >>>>>lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters >> >> this >> >>>>>year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. >>>>> >>>>>Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. >>>> >>>>We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between >> >> 6 >> >>>>and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, >> >> according >> >>>>to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few >>>>yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from >>>>the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got >>>>older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little >>>>brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and >>>>'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school >>>>principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for >>>>introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few >>>>adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't >>>>understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the >>>>mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the >>>>door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they >>>>watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at >>>>somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so >>>>they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to >>>>returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. >>>> >>>>There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one >>>>battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make >>>>up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample >>>>supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and >>>>hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of >>>>fetch). >>>> >>>>Definitely fun. >>> >>>You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? >>> >>>Did you live near some railroad tracks? >>> >>>We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to >>>boot. >> >> >> So did we; paper bags just split early in the evening. >> >> We had a custom that I've never seen anywhere else. Halloween was two >> nights. The first was trick or treating and the second was penny night >> where >> we pretty much covered the same territory but got pennies instead. Anyone >> else ever do that? >> > > I suspect penny night was originally connected to Guy Fawkes night > (Nov. 5) to find the purchase of fireworks and other protest supplies - > probably more common in areas with large English or Irish catholic > populations. I remember trick or treating two or three nights in a row, but not a penny night. > > -- > nuts
Shirley wrote: > "mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message > news:fgksf9$sff$1@aioe.org... > >>pscissons@sbcglobal.net wrote: >> >>>"Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message >>>news:6ljWi.47944$q7.24580@bignews3.bellsouth.net... >>> >>>>"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message >>>>news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... >>>> >>>>>Shirley wrote: >>>>> >>>>>>lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters >>> >>>this >>> >>>>>>year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed up. >>>>>> >>>>>>Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. >>>>> >>>>>We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids between >>> >>>6 >>> >>>>>and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, >>> >>>according >>> >>>>>to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few >>>>>yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from >>>>>the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got >>>>>older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little >>>>>brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon and >>>>>'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school >>>>>principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for >>>>>introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few >>>>>adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't >>>>>understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the >>>>>mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the >>>>>door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they >>>>>watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at >>>>>somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so >>>>>they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to >>>>>returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. >>>>> >>>>>There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one >>>>>battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to make >>>>>up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample >>>>>supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves (and >>>>>hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of >>>>>fetch). >>>>> >>>>>Definitely fun. >>>> >>>>You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? >>>> >>>>Did you live near some railroad tracks? >>>> >>>>We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to >>>>boot. >>> >>>So did we; paper bags just split early in the evening. >>> >>>We had a custom that I've never seen anywhere else. Halloween was two >>>nights. The first was trick or treating and the second was penny night >>>where >>>we pretty much covered the same territory but got pennies instead. Anyone >>>else ever do that? >> >>I suspect penny night was originally connected to Guy Fawkes night >>(Nov. 5) to find the purchase of fireworks and other protest supplies - >>probably more common in areas with large English or Irish catholic >>populations. > > I remember trick or treating two or three nights in a row, but not a penny > night. It was replaced by the tickled feet for UNICEF thing - any money went into the orange box. The idea put forth in the 1950's era was to replace the treats with cash donations. Not many kids bought the replacement idea but did buy into feeding and educating hungry kids ($1 will feed and educate an entire village or something). Actually, considering the difference between trick or treat donations ($250 million since 1950 maybe) and the annual UNICEF budget ($2.8 billion) the program is a tiny drop in the bucket - keep people busy doing something insignificant - they'll have less time and motivation to sort out the real picture. We had UNICEF contests going at school which led to several days of kids knocking on doors or groups standing in front of stores scrounging - penny months. That seems to have fallen off a lot lately and the original purpose - funding rowdiness, mayhem and protest - has been lost to memory. -- nuts
"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message news:fgl869$3jk$1@aioe.org... > Shirley wrote: >> "mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message >> news:fgksf9$sff$1@aioe.org... >> >>>pscissons@sbcglobal.net wrote: >>> >>>>"Shirley" <bigd1999@bellsoutj.net> wrote in message >>>>news:6ljWi.47944$q7.24580@bignews3.bellsouth.net... >>>> >>>>>"mixed nuts" <melopsiticus@undulatus.budgie> wrote in message >>>>>news:fgbjk2$i6k$1@aioe.org... >>>>> >>>>>>Shirley wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>>lots of candy because the granddaughter wanted to see the tricksters >>>> >>>>this >>>> >>>>>>>year (she even helped pay for the candy) and only five kids showed >>>>>>>up. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>Trick or treating ain't the fun it used to be. >>>>>> >>>>>>We used to cover most of the north end of town when we were kids >>>>>>between >>>> >>>>6 >>>> >>>>>>and 12 - from 6 to 9 pm - about a 2-3 mile 'planned' hike which, >>>> >>>>according >>>> >>>>>>to plan, terminated when the bag got too heavy just a few >>>>>>yards from home. Everybody was out with cousins and friends from >>>>>>the rural parts of town so it was a major social event. When we got >>>>>>older - 12-16 or so, the distance decreased because we brought little >>>>>>brothers, sisters and kids we sat for, who weren't up to a marathon >>>>>>and >>>>>>'needed' to be introduced to such luminaries as the elementary school >>>>>>principal (she was nice and invited the little critters in for >>>>>>introductions) and the maple street crossing cop. There were very few >>>>>>adults out - they stayed home to deal with the under 5 set (who didn't >>>>>>understand what was going on and weren't recruited to demonstrate the >>>>>>mother's ability to buy the cutest costume ever) and to answer the >>>>>>door. The cops were out but stationed at the same crossings they >>>>>>watched after school. My sisters sometimes got "lost" - usually at >>>>>>somebody's house - teacher, friend... - just gabbing I suppose - so >>>>>>they usually returned with light bags. Us guys were more committed to >>>>>>returning with a prize harvest and kept up a steady 'no frills' pace. >>>>>> >>>>>>There were _no_ electric skeletons hanging in the trees and not one >>>>>>battery powered fake plastic wiggly ghost on the porch. We had to >>>>>>make >>>>>>up our own spooks (we had the knack). Fortunately, there was an ample >>>>>>supply of free-range black cats and unleashed dogs rustling leaves >>>>>>(and >>>>>>hanging out waiting for someone to tongue lash and engage in a game of >>>>>>fetch). >>>>>> >>>>>>Definitely fun. >>>>> >>>>>You're not my brother (sister, cousin) are you? >>>>> >>>>>Did you live near some railroad tracks? >>>>> >>>>>We always used pillowcases as they held more and were very strong to >>>>>boot. >>>> >>>>So did we; paper bags just split early in the evening. >>>> >>>>We had a custom that I've never seen anywhere else. Halloween was two >>>>nights. The first was trick or treating and the second was penny night >>>>where >>>>we pretty much covered the same territory but got pennies instead. >>>>Anyone >>>>else ever do that? >>> >>>I suspect penny night was originally connected to Guy Fawkes night >>>(Nov. 5) to find the purchase of fireworks and other protest supplies - >>>probably more common in areas with large English or Irish catholic >>>populations. >> >> I remember trick or treating two or three nights in a row, but not a >> penny night. > > It was replaced by the tickled feet for UNICEF thing - any money > went into the orange box. The idea put forth in the 1950's era was > to replace the treats with cash donations. Not many kids bought the > replacement idea but did buy into feeding and educating hungry > kids ($1 will feed and educate an entire village or something). > > Actually, considering the difference between trick or treat donations > ($250 million since 1950 maybe) and the annual UNICEF budget ($2.8 > billion) the program is a tiny drop in the bucket - keep people busy > doing something insignificant - they'll have less time and motivation > to sort out the real picture. > > We had UNICEF contests going at school which led to several days of > kids knocking on doors or groups standing in front of stores > scrounging - penny months. That seems to have fallen off a lot lately > and the original purpose - funding rowdiness, mayhem and protest - has > been lost to memory. Some where along this road called life we have lost our prime directive.. > > -- > nuts
