273. This is the number of trick or treaters we had at our house on Halloween.
That is nearly 300. That’s a bunch.
Fortunately, I was not the distributor this year. That job fell to my wife, whose precision measurement and distribution assures me that we did not have 272 visitors or 274 visitors, but 273.
There are not 273 children living in our neighborhood. There are hardly 273 PEOPLE in our neighborhood. We are something of an outpost, a safe place for families from less safe neighborhoods to take their children. We don’t mind.
While I was not distributing, I was accompanying my own little Boba Fett around the neighborhood, which was a joy itself. But the circuit was made all that more interesting and delightful as I walked with my neighbor from across the street – Ed (Faoud, actually), and his wife Malika. Our conversation ranged from globalization to the books we were reading to the upcoming election to, particularly, the anti-gay marriage amendment being proposed for the Florida constitution and the place of morality and moral restrictions in constitutional documents.
I respect those who take a different approach to how to ‘deal with’ the whole Halloween thing. I really do. But this ‘event’ gave me an opportunity to spend some great time with a neighbor, growing more comfortable with him and he with me. I’m glad to have had the opportunity.
The bummer of it all was that I had purchased, I thought, sufficient candy to have EXTRA for me when it was all done. That was not meant to be.
TulipGirl
I’m impressed at the mad skillz of candy distribution at your household.We had less TorTers this year, than in years past. . . We usually have a nice representation of out-of-neighborhooders, too. I like that, though I do worry about people driving through the winding roads with so many kids afoot.The boys’ favorite costume they saw this year was the “pumpkin belly” — a brave preggers mom who turned her belly into a pumpkin!
Gail and Keith
We had, maybe, 10 kids at our door.And we have lots of candy! The grocery store had buy one, get one free–and all of it chocolate! G
MagistraCarminum
Rejoicing in the good work accomplished by the Greenwalds that night. Barb is the woman!!Chris
Anonymous
I thought certainly the candies used in your sermon illustration were leftover from the 31st. You mean you had to go out and buy MORE?!No one comes to our door, though there are some youngsters a few units away. We don’t stock up on candy b/c we don’t want it in the house.Spouse asks, “Why didn’t Randy borrow from son’s bag if he so much wanted treats?”–ae
Randy Greenwald
Well, ae, perhaps I have not dipped into my son’s bag for one of three reasons:1) he is Boba Fett, for crying out loud. That is one dangerous dude.2) where I come from, dipping into someone else’s supply is not called ‘borrowing’3) there’s nothing in his bag that I like.I let you determine which is the real reason.And yes, Tulip Girl, we are talking mad scientific skills. The woman in this house is nothing if not concerned for details in matters like this.
Matthew
We had 2. Alissa and I bet before the night began she said 3. I won the bet. I think she bought the candy more for personal consumption then giving away to various Boba Fetts and princesses, seeing as she picked out everything she like out of the bowl as to not let it get taken.
Randy Greenwald
Alissa, you are my kind of girl… 😉