Before you know it, Halloween will be upon us. However, just as I stated about the danger that art can bring in my "Joker" story, one must be careful while their kids are trick-or-treating. Things have changed over the years. As a child, I couldn't wait for Halloween. As an adult, I can still say the same. I love seeing the costumes and handing out the candy. Sometimes, I even dress up to pass out the treats. Unfortunately, in today's society, I have to be careful in the way that I handle this task so that the parents realize there is no danger to their kids. I don't have a problem with that because I am always careful, but it is a shame that some people are more fond of the tricks than treats.
I also am a little wary when I see real big kids, who are really young adults, ringing doorbells in no costume but still asking for treats. I love it when adults dress up, but there is no need to go door-to-door asking for candy. When I outgrew my trick-or-treating age, I would dress up and go to a party and sometimes have some fun by scaring people on the street. The last part wouldn't go over well today. I am a Christian, but I do like the playfulness of Halloween.
A vast majority of people seem to be very uptight nowadays. In my mind, generating a smile or even a harmless scare is way more important than complaining about everything. There are those people who do tend to take their fun way too far. Having fun is just that. It is not recreating a scene from "The Purge." Why people would want to harm others is beyond my comprehension.
Some towns offer a trunk version for the holiday where kids are brought to a designated location and go from car to car. If I was still a kid, I just know that I would have a problem with this. To me, the sense of adventure would be loss. Besides, I always liked checking out the neighbors' homemade graveyards and creative frights.
Obviously, the same rules for Halloween trick-or-treating still apply. Never trust any candy that is unwrapped! Why people still pass these out is just horrifying. Always travel in a group. This prevents a child from wandering off or being a target for some sicko. Make sure that you can be seen in the dark by wearing or carrying something that lets people know that you are walking in the neighborhood. Definitely, obey any curfew laws that your town imposes. This will help law enforcement weed out those that are looking for trouble. Also, make sure your parent rifles through your candy to ensure that you can digest everything in your bag. Most of all, HAVE FUN! This is what the holiday was intended for you to do, not what some of the bad people turn it into.
