Halloween 2010

October 2010 marks the official four year anniversary for Luke's Ponderings, as it was four years ago that I began this venture on Blogger (although if you count the word press blog, it was earlier than that). Back then, the Detroit Tigers were in the World Series and all was right with the world - okay, things are pretty good today, too. I bet if you look back through the archives, you'll see that once October rolled around, I discussed Halloween more often than not. There might have been on year when I didn't, but it's something I've been pretty consistent with. So as October 2010 comes to a close, it wouldn't be right if I didn't discuss Halloween in some form or fashion.

Needless to say, I won't be able to enjoy Halloween much at all this year. I am currently working midnight shift and the next two days I'll be working 12-hour shifts. So when I get home from work after tonight's shift, I'll go to bed around 8 AM and wake up shortly before 3 PM. I'll have to wait and see if I get any trick or treaters at my house - last year I didn't, but then last year I got home from work a little after 7:30 in the evening; much too late for anyone to come to my door. Just to be on the safe side, I went out and bought a couple of bags of candy in case I do get some trick or treaters. Hopefully I didn't underplan! That is always something I worry about - crowds and crowds of kids coming to your door and you running out of candy. Hopefully that does not happen.

Last night, I began thinking back on some old Halloween traditions that I used to enjoy as a kid. TV Land used to air "Munsters" quite often - and they'd always have a marathon of that show on Halloween. And then you have those epic Halloween movies like "Friday the 13th" and the "Hallween" trilogy. Usually AMC or HBO is airing those movies and they are some of my all-time favorite thriller movies. Back at my parent's house, we'd set up this boom box near the front porch and we'd play this tape of scary Halloween sounds as the trick or treaters would come to the door. Most of the older kids thought it was a pretty cool thing, while some of the younger kids got a little freaked out by it. But it was always enjoyable to see the kids come to the front door in search of goodies and dressed up in a variety of costumes.

So as you can tell, Halloween these days are pretty uneventful holidays for me. I didn't even decorate too much for the holiday, although I did buy some new lighted figures for the window that I turn on each night. We shall see if I get any trick or treaters to the door or not this year. If I get a handful, great. If I get 20, that's tremendous. If I get over 50, I'll be in trouble because I didn't get enough candy! However, I don't forsee that as being a problem. I am sure many kids are out trick or treating right now in downtown Marquette or are attending other planned events in the area rather than sticking to trick or treating. I loved trick or treating when I was a kid and I can't understand why it's being done less often nowadays. Well, whatever happens, Halloween is still one of those holidays I always enjoy, even though I may be celebrating it less and less as an adult.