We spent our first Halloween in the new neighborhood last night. Last year it coincided with our trip to Austin for the Formula 1 race so we hadn’t had any experience with Trick or Treat in Brookside.  This year was also unusual because there happened to be a World Series game on with our local team so we had no idea what to expect.  For the most part it was fun: gathering in a neighbor’s driveway with others from the area with a fire pit and kids in costumes.  We even set up a TV to be able to keep tabs on the game while the kids came collecting candy.

I noticed two interesting things.  First, kids are used to “one door, one treat” and they don’t seem to understand any alternative.  We had four households gathered in one driveway and the two households next door were dark. Even though there were 20 people gathered in the driveway, many kids still knocked on the door.  We’d call them over and explain that several houses were in that one spot – one stop trick or treating we called it – and they would take candy from one person and leave. There were four of us standing there with big bowls of candy and yet they would each walk up to one of us and then move on.  And inevitably, they would knock on the door of the house next door even though we had just explained that we were all gathered together.   And yes, I know that they are kids but the parents were right there listening to the explanation so it still stumps me how rigid some traditions are.

Second, some people view this holiday activity as an acquisition competition – or it just brings out the greed in people.  We were expecting to see cars drive to our neighborhood to trick or treat.  I get that – some places are better (safer? more generous?) than others to go knocking on doors.  What dismayed me were the PARENTS who came with bags and some WITHOUT KIDS. Really?  You really need free Double Bubble?  And then there were the extremely annoying ones – the drive bys. Most people who come from elsewhere would park in front of a house and canvass the entire neighborhood before returning to the car.  To me that feels right:  you are adopting my neighborhood for one night and wandering around it meeting the neighbors and the kids like anyone who lives here would.  As the evening progressed, cars would pull up in front of the driveway where we were, doors would fly open and kids hop out and run to multiple houses while the car idled in the middle of the street.  It was so disheartening that parents are teaching their kids that they need to get as much free stuff as possible and then hurry back so we can go get more free stuff somewhere else.

And yes, we had the painful number of teenagers with pillowcases who didn’t even bother to dress up.  And yes, we had people who still came begging at nearly 10pm. But I am saddened by how this fun day that to me means dress up as something your not and share that entertainment with others is now no more than a grab and go opportunity. (We were cheered up by the Royals win in game 4 though.  Gotta look for the silver lining!)