BYBS - Hallowe'en Reflections

While waiting for the little ghosts and goblins to come haunting last night I couldn't help but thing of my days of trick or treating as a child then those of our now grown kids. My how times have changed! When I was young we had pretty much free rein of our little town. We all knew who made the best fudge and popcorn balls. Getting a treasured homemade candy apple with the sparkling red coating was one of the highlights of the night. Our bags became heavy with all kinds of homemade candies, cookies and penny candy. Fast forward to our kids trick or treating days as children. By then times had changed. Parents started coming with their kids and there were fears over harmful candy/apple tampering. Apples and homemade cookies and candies were discouraged with many parents tossing them out rather than take any chances. By their teenage years a local radio station encouraged kids to be in from trick or treating by 8:30 pm by offering prizes if they called your home and the kids were home. Parents in larger centres began taking their kids to Hallowe'en parties rather than letting them trick or treat. In many areas curfews became the norm for anyone under the age of consent. Time have once more changed! We had 7 children with their parents visit last night, all from our street. Many parents are confining their children's trick or treating to family and friends. I've heard comments from younger parents questioning the message that trick or treating sends as well. In today's world we tell our kids not to accept candy from strangers and not to go to strangers' homes yet trick or treating is quite contrary to that message.

We live in such an amazing time with those who are middle age and older experiencing many things we could never dream was possible. Yet there is a sadness that the younger generation will never experience the quieter, simpler times of our youth. Gone are the days stores closed on Sundays, Wednesday afternoons and 5 o'clock on weeknights except for Fridays when they stayed open until 9 pm. Gone is some our innocence and quickly going is some of our traditions.

Garden Gnome
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