Halloween

 Today is Halloween. Witches, ghosts, goblins, and pumpkins everywhere.  Kids dressed up as cartoon characters, scary creatures, princesses, and cowboys, roaming the streets.  Tons of candy given out tonight, and tons of stomach aches tomorrow.  

Once again, it made me think of Halloween when I was a kid. We always went as a group with my Yates cousins. We’d go up and down Old Port Gibson Road to all the neighbors and relatives.  We always knew what we’d get at each house.  They gave the same things every year!  Mrs. Peyton always had parched peanuts. Mrs. Brown always had the best popcorn balls. Aunt Jane had cupcakes, and Aunt Helen had brownies.  Grandmother had chips from the store. And Mr. Womack, who was a widower, always had us a cold Coke! Other than Granny’s chips and Mr. Clyde’s coke, all our treats were homemade.  They were much better!  

One time Daddy had bought an old airport shuttle bus and we all piled in it and went as a group!   That was part of the fun too, riding around in that long, stretched Suburban, laughing and eating junk food! When we got back, we’d usually wind up at Uncle Don and Aunt Helen’s house for a wiener and marshmallow roast.  

Kids today would probably turn up their noses at peanuts and popcorn balls, but for us it was a true treat!  I think about that when I walk through Walmart, Kroger, or even Dollar General and see the huge displays of Halloween candy.  And I get a taste for a popcorn ball and parched peanuts!