Day 304, Oct. 31: Eerie

 10 Memories

from Halloween

Not all of these will probably be "eerie," but I wanted to tempt people into reading the post.

1. State Street: I had heard about what it was like on this Madison street on Halloween night, but until I walked down it in 1977, I never imagined. I went as the Squeeze Box (a cardboard box over my head with holes for the eyes and mouth)

2. Gary Gets Beat Up: As high school juniors, five of us went out and tossed a few eggs. Well, we got chased through backyards. Four of us escaped. Gary got caught and a black eye.

3. The Creepy Old Farmer: About three years ago, Kris and I dressed up. I had a long old gray beard, overhauls and a farmer's implement cap. I hustled a couple of young women from work who didn't even recognize me, until I lowered the beard.

4. Jay the M&M: One of our first trick-or-treat experiences with our oldest son, Jay, was dressing him in a child-size M&M costume. It was very cute, though not very manly.

5. The Haunted House: Before we were married, Kris and I went to a historic home above our favorite former nightspot, Isabella's. It wasn't really haunted, but many people wore some very cool costumes.

6. Counting Coup: As the boys became old enough to carry their own bags, we'd have fun at home later dividing the candy and treats into organized piles - as father and sons.

7. Costume Party: Early in our marriage, my first wife, Jane, and I went to a real costume party. She dressed as a pirate woman and I went as a PeeWee Herman type of character. ("I know you are, but what am I?")

8. High School Party: Barely dating for the first time as a senior (I was dating a freshman), we were invited to a party (of freshmen). 

But I got my first kiss!

9. Farmers vs. City Kids: As sophomores in high school, my main group of friends once again got a hold of some eggs. But so did our farmer friends and our first cars took the brunt of it 

before we washed them off.

10. Handing Out Candy: About four years ago, I held down the fort here on Hill Street and handed out candy while Kris had to work. It was the first time I ever gave out more than 2-3 items as my old house at Napier Street never got any trick-or-treaters hidden up on our hill.