Autumn and Halloween

[auld argonian]

One of my favorite aspects of Halloween is waiting for the last family that I know will come trick or treating: the Thompsons.

The Thompson kids attended the same school as my two kids. There are thirteen Thompsons and their mom and dad are two of the most patient and wonderful people that I've ever met. Without exception all of the Thompsons are nice, smart, polite children and just a pleasure to spend time with.

I used to direct the annual musical at the kids school and the casts were full of Thompsons...a very talented family and their grand dad is Dave Green who's one of the most famous piano bar guys in Chicago and who, by coincidence, knows my mom from the days when she worked as the desk clerk at the Bismarck Hotel and he was playing in the cocktail lounge...small world.

A couple of the girls were our babysitters when our kids were small and now they're grown, married and bringing their own children with trick or treating...and these kids are adorable. It's sort of become a ritual for both families for the Thompsons to come over at about eight o'clock and be our last group of trick or treaters. I make up special trick or treat bags just for them...hey...special treatment? Fer sure.

Anyway, it sure doesn't seem like this much time has gone by, but it has, and seeing the Thompsons every Halloween is one of the nicest parts of the holiday.

Best

AA

ps: ...and if I'm lucky, my wife finds something very cute and sexy in the way of a costume and wears it for Halloween. Hey...I'm human...

[Yaish]

What a great thread. Thanks for starting it Jamie.

Halloween is also my favorite time of year. I love the cooling temps, the changing leaves, the crisp smell of cold northern air on the wind.
Hot apple cider, cold crisp apples, and the wind sighing in the trees outside. As a matter of fact, we have the first fire of the season in the fireplace right now.

I remember the costumes my grandmother used to make me. One year it was a full body monkey costume, complete with a stiff, curled tail. She had dismantled and old faux fur coat for material and put the whole thing together for me. Another year it was "swamp creature", replete with dangling bits of moss and algae.

Now it's more house parties (one this Saturday) and handing out candy. Of course there is also helping the niece and nephew put their costumes together. (she is going as a mermaid, my wife is putting it together. The boy wants a store bought costume unfortunately, but he's at that age ya know)

[PiobBear]

So for those of you among the good members who also delight in this time of year, here his a place to share what you do to put you in “the Spirit” of the season.

Changing leaves; all the colors. Picking late blueberries. The first really cool days; especially at night, and at sunrise. The feeling of my favorite tweeds, cords, and sweaters. Migrating geese. The apple harvest; the smell of an apple house, the taste of fresh, right-out-of-the-press cider.
Wood smoke; the warmth of a fire in a cold room. First frost....

Oh yeah...I live in Florida now...*sigh*

[pipesndrumsnun]

In Michigan, it is certainly the beautifully colored trees and crisp days...and football!