Halloween

I'm so confused.

I just about have given up pondering what to do on Halloween.

In my opinion, I think this whole Halloween thing has gotten out of hand. I don't know if I want to dress up or just forget it. And if I do decide to play along and dress up as someone or something else, I am even more confused.
In the last 15 to 20 years, it seems like this so-called fun event for the kids has turned into an adult activity more than for the younger set. Sure pholks, lots of adults used to dress up and get into the thing, but generally for community or neighborhood parties. Moms and grandmas toiled for days, putting just the right outfit together, along with baking cookies, cupcakes and gathering all kinds of treats for the party. My grandma had me hiding under a table during a community party when I was pretty young. I didn't know she wasn't home after hours of baking goodies.

Times certainly have changed. Then came the time when parents or much older brothers and sisters or close friends escorted the young goblins, spooks, witches, ghosts and assorted monsters on the trick-or-treat treks when so many kooky people began pulling disgusting tricks on the little ones. Halloween, which of course is not a real holiday, ceased to be fun. It was a concern. A time for extra caution. A time for justified suspicion. A time for too many tricks and not enough real treats.

And then for some reason, the adults seemed to take over. It just seems like there are more adults than youngsters.
Being an election year of course provides thousands, maybe a couple million pholks, with the option of making fun of the candidate they don't like or pretending to be their personal choice. I want no part of that, since I really haven't picked a choice. It's not a matter of being politically correct, it's a matter of being political, and something I don't think should be mixed in with evil spirits, ghosts, monsters, cartoon characters, movie television, music or sports stars and all that. Remember pholks, someone is going to be elected to a powerful position and responsible for the course of our nation for at least four years.

Have you noticed how soon the Halloween advertisements and merchandizing started this year? It was mid-September and the stores were full of trick-or-treat items, all kinds of outfits and some really goofy stuff.
But back to my dilemma. I don't think my gypsy cousin Isabella is going to visit this year despite a number of inquiries about her from some of my buddies who fell for her pretty hard the last several years. Isabella is almost one of a kind and supposedly a part of the family several times removed. I wish she were even more removed because of the impact she makes when she “drags” me out to party.

The last I heard from her, through her mystical messaging system, is that she might be engaged to be married and won't be able to come to the Valley. Knowing her as I do, I suspect that will change once her new guy sees her in the party mood, something she only enters once or twice year.

I will keep you pholks, especially my eager buddies, up to date when I learn more.

Like I said, it is unlikely I will do anything special on Halloween night, although I must admit I have something in the back of my mind, such as it is, dealing with a potential costume. I haven't figured out just how to do it, but I'm thinking of going out as the U.S. Stock Market.

But that probably is too scary, especially for us adults who think Halloween is just for us these days.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com