We had 111 trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Lutrell passed out candy while I stood behind him counting the number of children holding their sacks out. Last year we had 55 kids, and in both 2007 and ’08 we had 79 little ones show up. Typically, the costumed crowd starts ringing the doorbell around 6:00 and then dwindles off by 8:30. On our calendar, I mark down the year, when the evening started and ended, and the number of children who came by. I don’t know anyone else who keeps Halloween records like I do, so I think that makes me a little odd. My fascination with trick-or-treater statistics is not all that different from people who keep weather or sports stats; I enjoy them as harmless conversation factoids.
For me, children on Halloween is must see reality. It’s a good couple of hours of pure entertainment. Watching their little expressions, a mixture of fear, joy, anticipation, wonder, and even gratitude cracks me up. It’s the job of little people to gather candy on Halloween night, and they do it with such commendable determination. I thoroughly enjoy seeing them, even the bigger ones.
Early in the day, as we’ve done every year we’ve been together, Lutrell and I carved our pumpkins. Can you guess which one is mine?
Even earlier in the day, we went for a mountain bike ride, and I received many smiles and nods from the folks who saw my festooned handlebars.
It’s not unusual to think of a fiscal year as ending on December 31st or, in some accounting circles, June 30th. They’re final wrap-up days that end one 12 month block of time and start another. October 31st is that threshold for me; I don’t pay taxes according it, but it does give me a significant cross-over feeling. Getting a lot of sweets-seeking children at Halloween is like checking the last Profit and Loss Statement for the year and discovering I’m in the black. It makes me happy and optimistic about the future.
Come November 1st, I’ll take whatever optimism I can get because just ahead are three of my least favorite days: Thanks Giving, Christmas, and New Years Eve. Facing down the tanker-truck loads of expectations and resentments that come with those three holidays is hard work. Having my year end at Halloween means that I can start the new 12 month cycle on a predictable low note, but then I have 10 months to recover, ending on a predictable Halloween high note. See? My 12 month trajectory aims up instead of down, and I prefer it that way.
So everyone, Happy New Year!
I’ll post again next Friday. In the meantime, enjoy the week.
i’ve never had a trick-or-treater in 30 years! i think kids (and their folks) are daunted by the 28 stairs and the scary lady at the top of them! more candy for me…ha ha ha!!!
Love your Halloween stats. Now I feel really mean. I was super busy that week and I didn’t buy candy or receive visitors. I’ve never ever done that and I felt sad because it certainly was always fun greeting my tiny visitors.
Your post made me realize that I’d better enjoy all these seasonal milestones and make the most of them! Thanks, Terry!
Kalpana