Cards & Candy

Monday, October 31, 2011
In which a Hallowe’en that doesn’t feel very much like Hallowe’en begins with sentimental news…

Monday started with the dampening news of hearing that Tony LaRussa had retired from coaching. This was a very sad piece of news for fans everywhere, naturally. But the hope continued that the players would stick together and continue their dream team into 2012, following the well-wishes of their former coach and mentor. Besides, who could choose a better way to leave?

Shortly before 2:30, Mom picked up Collette and Puck to join the rest of the family at the house for a Hallowe’en celebration that seemed very much not like Hallowe’en. Probably didn’t help that the sun was shining.
Back at the house, ‘ears’ were the subject of conversation. Everyone wanted to check out the caverns of each other’s listening organs.

The evening shortly arrived.
Stew was on the stove. Hawai’ian sweet rolls.
OLeif joined them just in time for a spread of Hallowe’en-style donuts.
And… it was a sort of monumental Hallowe’en for Collette. The first time – ever – that she didn’t really care about the chocolate. Not a wink. Even the one chocolate long john she downed, she could hardly finish. Maybe she was growing up. Maybe her taste buds had been somewhat altered after forgetting to eat through most of the World Series. Whatever it had been, it was an odd sort of symbolic post marker in her life.
Meanwhile…
Everyone was at the house except for Linnea, who, in Indian-Zulu garb, had left to join Gretyl in her aunt’s neighborhood.
Dad wanted to watch some Rockford Files with the boys.
“What’s that?” asked OLeif.
As soon as three notes of the theme song were out of Dad’s mouth, the groans commence…
“No, no, no!”
“No, Dad!”
“Not again!”
“Every day!”
And Puck prepared to embark for the evening in his Yip-Yip costume. Joe warned him before he left…
“Just remember, whatever candy you bring back, I get two out of every three. That’s the candy tax.”
Puck eagerly marched off into the night, followed by his grandma, dad, mamma, Uncle Joe, and two alarmingly bright white-blue lanterns. Fearlessly attacking each doorbell as his martian fringe bounced around his legs.
“I want to trick-or-treat until the sun comes up,” he announced.
Two doors later and a ride on his dad’s shoulders confirmed the end of Hallowe’en. A sizable candy stash was stored inside his pumpkin bag from Grandma Combs.
Back at the house, he began to split out the wealth among family members, followed by instruction…
“No more candy for you guys. It will keep you awake.”
“Sit down when you eat that, Grandpa,” he said, as Dad unwrapped a Tootsie Pop.
“No more candy for you, sir. You have too much candy every day.”
“Hey,” said OLeif to Dad, “how does that Rockford theme go again?”