I had the pleasure of giving out some candy again this Halloween. As I remembered the people who one way or another put up with me as a “Trick or Treater’, I am blessed to be able to give out candy to the kids who choose to show up at my door step.

When I was young we did things a little differently. We carried fire crackers, soap, and wax, and eggs with us. It would be a bad time for anyone who did not give us what we thought was our rightful share of candy. Houses were egged, or toilet papered, windows were soaped or waxed, and occasionally a fire cracker was dropped inside the entry way.

Perhaps I did not run with the best crowd on Halloween, but that is how it was where I lived as a child. Some adults were just as bad. They would go out of their way to terrify children who dared come to their door. This year was amazingly different.

It started with an almost two year old in a fluffy golden suit, sort of like a snow suit with a fluffy golden hood with ears. Next to him was a little boy of about four. The little boy told me, “I am a scarecrow”. I had noticed he did look a lot like Scarecrow from “The Wizard of Oz”, but how could he know about that movie.

He repeated that he was a scarecrow. I replied, “Yes, and a fine looking scarecrow too!” He was not put off by me. He is a Lion pointing at the littler boy. “Oh, I see that now, and he is a fine Lion”, I replied. Then a little girl stepped out from behind them, and the little boy said, “And this is Dorothy”. It became clear to me, they did know about the Wizard of Oz – which happens to be one of my favorite all time movies.

I told them they looked very nice, and someone worked very hard on their costumes. From farther back, the Father and Mother stepped forward, and I repeated to them what I said. The Father said something agreeable, and the Mom smiled and beamed with happiness. They too were in costume. I asked if they wanted some candy too, and they politely declined.

Their visit and the time they took be sociable filled me with warm fuzzie’s, and I thought what a wonderful family, how creative, thoughtful, and how polite, letting whoever answered the door to be a part of their family, if only for a moment or two.

I was even more taken back as older kids without parents showed up for candy. Thank you sir, have a nice Halloween sir. Good evening sir, thank you for the candy. Even two older girls who looked a little risqué, thanked me for the candy, wished me a good night, and a happy Halloween.

What I experienced this Halloween led me to thinking; perhaps my generation has done some good in the world after all. I also realized I felt grateful for such a magical time, and on one of my favorite nights of the year! I almost felt guilty for the way my friends and I were all those years ago, almost….