Trick or Treat Transition

Halloween, October 31, 2022

Night has fallen. Streetlights have automatically turned on, pools of illumination under each. 

Around 5:30 PM, I hear chatter from down the street. First are the little kids, who can hardly contain their energy, dressed in their costumes, orange buckets in hand, politely chanting "Trick or Treat!," their parents standing on the sidewalk, smiling, probably relieved that the days of preparation and costume choosing are over. Some of the parents are pretty cool outliers in costume, sharing the fun moments as their kids, some for the first time, come trick or treating.

One of my neighbors, in solidarity with her daughter and loving every moment, is wearing a really cool T-Rex outfit as she shepherds kids from house to house.

Last there are the 12-14 year olds. They are too cool and too embarrassed to put on a costume but want to embrace this last piece of their childhood before letting go of trick or treating, not able to grasp that the next time they experience this ritual they may bs parents themselves bringing their own kids up a street on a cool autumn night for Halloween.

Photo by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

 

 

Comments

[Susaan Straus]

Lovely!

[Diana]

We had the best time. Two chairs at the top of our stairs and about 100-125 kiddos came by. One little boy, seeing Chris and me dancing to Halloween music for kids, asked if he could dance with us. It was the best part of the night!!

[Janny]

Love this!
Praise the mom for her solidarity!

I have two funny costume stories.
Here is the easiest one to describe.
Age 20 ,when I dressed up as a black cat in a leotard with a looooong tail.

Hopped in a cab and dragged that darn tail all over NYC
I got out in the village and realized it had been caught in the door. Well, it was a hot battered mess. What to do?
Found a drug store and bandaged it together with yards of gauze. Slapped bandaids on my face and paws and declared myself the cat fight loser.

First Prize: A bottle of Ripple and some cat nip or similar substance .
Should have been heavy cream!

[Bambi]

thanks.. we had a full-sized dinosaur mom on our street last night and here is a photo of me who met the kids who had gathered on the next street and then made their way up the street.. I greeted them as they started out and offered them to share their wishes with me which I granted with the help of my wand. In this photo, I'm with the cat o'lantern our daughter and her husband carved for us on Sunday.... My husband used to do truly remarkable ones! I just threw in the cat o'lantern for good measure..
I hope you're thriving, Bambi

[Susan Sullivan]

Loved Halloween. I think it was my son's favorite holiday. Will try to find a picture of him dressed up.

[Paul A Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Wow, Diana, the largest crowd of kids I've heard about. Your dancing was the biggest treat, so good that a kid asked to dance with you...what a treat!

[Paul A Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Bambi, you must have made a big hit waving your wand and asking kids to share their wishes! Brilliant idea!

[Paul A Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Janny, two costume stories, even at 20, you were a great improviser!

[Paul A Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Susan, my mother always helped me come up with a costume. One of my faves was as a knight, used cardboard to make a helmet, painted a piece of homosote for shield, and two pieces of wood painted to make a sword. Probably cost 50 cents!

[Susan McCulloch]

Perfect Paul. Love that costume!