Somebody once said, "The best thing you can have up your sleeve is your funny bone." Happiness is contagious. It is a fact. If you laugh more, you live more. And even if this wasn't true, at least you'd feel like you've lived longer and better.
Need something to do? How many good words can you make out of Happy Halloween? How many great events could you attend to celebrate?
Halloween, for me this year, was a four-day celebration. The Friday before Halloween, I was fortunate to take in the Halloween party at the elementary school in Ellendale. Though many costumes were bought, it is amazing to think of the all the creativity involved in costumes, games and activities. Each of the classes played a few games before the big "parade of costumes" took place in the gymnasium.
On Saturday, I attended the benefit for Cheryl Sauke, and many people in attendance, including Cheryl, came "dressed up" for Halloween. I later stopped at the Geneva Bar & Grill and George's for their Halloween parties as well, and once again saw some great costumes.
Then on Sunday, I was lucky enough to have my three daughters and three granddaughters "come home" for an early Halloween celebration. They all live close, but not that close, and they wanted to spend the afternoon together. They brought pizza and of course we had to take pictures of Mallory, Morgan and little Amelia, who is only one month old, in their Halloween costumes.
Amelia had two costumes in fact. She first wore a pink skeleton suit, later changing into a little orange pumpkin costume that said, "Mommy’s cutest little pumpkin" on the front. The girls had fun pretending while they had their costumes on. We also enjoyed the afternoon looking back at the past in pictures of when my girls were babies. I don't have all the pictures in the order they should be, but I have a lot of them sorted by child. There was lots of laughter involved in seeing how each one grew.
Halloween officially arrived on Monday. Every place I went that day, people came dressed up as something but themselves.
The Ellendale United Methodist Church parking lot was host, for the fourth year in a row, for "Trunk or Treats." People lined up their vehicles in the church parking lot and opened up their trucks, or side doors of their vans, to show off how they decorated for Halloween. They also brought along fun goodies to share with the kids. Starting the event earlier in the day at 5:30 p.m. was great, especially for the little ones, so they could enjoy the holiday.
The church parking lot provided a great place to see how everyone dressed up for the big day. The hardest part was deciding how many cute pictures I could take. Many of the adults dressed up for the event too. I do think they were enjoying themselves just as much as the kids. Anything that makes you laugh and feel good is worth all the time and effort put into it.
Needless to say, I've changed my mind on Halloween after seeing how much enjoyment the children had in their costumes while they took part in the trick or treating events. The joy and expression on their faces and the interaction they had with their parents, teachers, friends and relatives was something to be proud of.
Kids really do enjoy Halloween and I don't think the rewards make any difference. There is fun in dressing up. Adults used to have just as much fun when they went "Yule-a-boking."
Forget about monsters and goblins and all that nasty stuff, except as costumes picked by the kids. Everyone had fun!
Maybe Halloween has now become a fun day of celebration, not mischief making. It has also gone beyond the "grim and gory" and become more of a day of "let's pretend." For that brief moment of time, the little ones can fill that desire to be a princess, a pirate, an elf, a doctor, a butterfly, a fireman. And the list goes on.
Trickery seems to have gone away more too and there is little thought of waxed windows, toilet paper or even more strenuous tricks that might border on vandalism. Hopefully it has become more of a childrens' and parents' day where visions of good things come into their heads.
The weather cooperated for the big holiday this year and for at least a little while, folks could put their cares aside and live it up!
Thank you, too, to those who have children under handicapped conditions and brought them out for the event as well. You made it fun for them. Their smiles were beautiful. There’s nothing cuter than a little red haired two-year-old in his stroller saying, "Cheese." Cute enough to be photographed many times.
Over the years, I have chose not to give out candy, and have given out pencils, or dimes. But I no longer give money as I felt it was too dangerous; a child might happen to put it in their mouth. They also might easily lose it as they make their ways down the street as they go door to door.
This year, my mother met her match when she offered something different for Halloween to her great granddaughter who loves stuffed rabbits. Mom offered her a new rabbit, some money or a storybook. The little one replied, "Grandma, you're supposed to give candy treats." Grandma replied, "You know I don't buy candy for little girls." Her reply was, "Yes, I know, but there is candy in your drawer," and so there was. Never try to out wit a youngster.
I hope that you too had a Happy Halloween!
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• Thursday, November 10th: Keith McDonald, Eric Anderson, Russell Reistad, Tomm Richards, Jennifer Zimprich, Jessica Kasper, Andrew Olson, Jessica (Johnson) & Dan Rebelein, Stan & Liz Reichl, Everett & Diane Jensen.
• Friday, November 11th: Jason Tracy, Kate Laudon, Agnes Christensen, Ione Hagen, Dale Hunt, Paula Swearingen, Jennifer Jacobs, Dawn Diemer, Rachel Gould, Dave & Linda Brandt, Amanda Schimdt, Tory Lee Christensen.
• Saturday, November 12th: Trinity Tracy Vulcan, Tatum Charlotte Vulcan, Samuel Henry Kaplan, Lois Johnson Aitchison, Jill Jensen, Holly Thompson, Craig Clausen, Helen Kellem, Scott & Jan Sorenson, Jill & Shannon Jensen.
• Sunday, November 13th: Geoffrey Nelson. Abbey Louise Titus, Bill Johnson, Jeffrey Nelson, Diane Brighton, Earl & Janis Klinger, Steve & Pennie Ladlie.
• Monday, November 14th: Cassandra Hill, Dakota Tracy, Kaye Larson Allen, Jill Ottesen Kehne, Kim Anderson, Gloria Tufte Keehn, Dawn Farr, Brandon Grunwald.
• Tuesday, November 15th: Sydney Ann Collins, Greg Riley, John Flor Jr., Daniel Mucha, Lee Waage, Cynthia Callahan, Jacob Douglas Bell.
• Wednesday, November 16th: Ross Sletten, Asa Daniel Russell Johnson, Matthew Marcus, Betty Brandt, Ronald Johnson, Fred Schmidt, Miranda Dubois.
Wherever this year takes you, may you feel happiness along the way!
