Though Halloween has become a holiday for kids of all ages, many of my adult friends choose to stay home and give out candy, or go out only briefly to escort their own kids around the block. The idea of going to a party or dressing up isn't on their radar. Perhaps the mystery of the evening has lost its luster for them, especially on a school night.
I do truly enjoy seeing the little kids, with their parents watching from a few steps back, shyly taking a mini-Snickers bar from the bowl and putting it into their goody bag. I remember bringing home my bag of booty and sorting through all the candies. I would dump everything on my bed, pick my favorites and then give the leftovers to my parents. I suspect they saved my throwaways to be their emergency stock for next year.
For most kids, Halloween must be like an awards-show gift suite. You know, where the stars go between rehearsals for the event to get swag bags full of stuff the manufacturers hope they will wear or use (read: promote).
Other than making sure that our loved ones are safe, we don't really have much responsibility on Halloween night, and I encourage you to have fun. Yes, there are things that go wrong, and every year someone tries to win a Darwin Award by doing something stupid, but for the most part All Hallow Even is the one night of the year when we aren't afraid to knock on a stranger's door and ask for a treat.
Share this evening with others. Most holidays — and Halloween is no exception — are hard to take alone. If you are planning to get wasted or stay isolated, you may want to consider going to a support group or even a party. When most everyone is out having fun and you are in your room ruminating, you are not only missing out but are probably feeling some emotional pain. Use this night to put it aside and find a few hours of joy. Remember, this is a holiday that encourages us all to forget our troubles and imagine that everyone will live happily ever after.