Valley Circle Lane Halloween

        On Halloween, in my grade school days, we took our UNICEF containers trick-or-treating with us. At school we were given what looked like empty milk cartons – the one-cup size like they had in the cafeteria at lunchtime – they had that size and shape to them. There was a slot in the top, like a piggy bank. When we went out on Halloween, we were supposed to yell, “Trick or Treat! And change for UNICEF!” and when we held out our bags to collect the candy, we stuck our milk containers in front of us and shook them to make a jingling sound. I thought it was embarrassing to ask people for money, even in a costume, but no one seemed to mind how much or how little was in the milk cartons when we took them back to school after Halloween.

          I do not remember trick or treating until I was grade school age, and I think my outings were only while living on Heinrich Road, which would be until I was 10. One year I was a horse – not the front end or the back end, but an entire, albeit, bipedal horse – and yes, I had a long face both inside and outside the mask. Another year my Mom bought me a lady mask –  I did not think the lady mask was was a good costume at the time – I'm female, and the mask was female – where's the disguise? But when I walked into my best friend's house with the mask on, Diane laughed and laughed – so that's when I learned that any kind of mask is a good disguise.

Uncle John with our Halloween mask

          Our trick-or-treat route was usually Valley Circle Lane and a few houses on Heinrich Road. It seems like it was always very cold – the desire to wear a winter coat over the costume, or maybe even not go out at all, was very strong – of course, our parents made sure we were not under-dressed for the weather. Most people answered their doors, gave us our candy, and we would be on our way.

          But there was one family, way in the back of the Circle who would insist we come into the house – just the kitchen – and we had to chat a while and tell them who we were (introduce ourselves!) before they would give us any candy. I knew they were being neighborly with their forced etiquette, but it was totally out of my comfort zone.

          Another family, this one on Heinrich Road two houses past Diane's, invited everyone in one Halloween! Their basement had a door to the outside, and they served apple cider and powdered doughnuts – lots of people were there, and that was fun. It is a Halloween scene I've always remembered and often wished I had the energy and social ease to duplicate for my neighbors during today's Halloweens!

304 20151031 Valley Circle Lane Halloween