FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for October 24, 2015

An 8yo girl with a growth spurt. Like that’ll catch on.

I retired from Trick-or-Treating at the ripe old age of 12. I figured that when all I could think about was how cold it was outside and how I couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could go home and get warm, it was time to hang up the goodie bag for good.

For many years now, I’ve had trick-or-treaters show up at my door who were as tall or taller than I am. High school kids. They’re utterly shameless about begging for free candy. When I was a kid, most kids would have been embarrassed to go trick-or-treating beyond the age of 11.

She’s too to be Samantha, but the right age to be Sabrina.

Both my kids stopped on their own by sixth grade. My son stopped in the forth grade because he didn’t like to go out without his older sister. After that they both dressed up, stayed at home and passed out the candy. They’ve always said they had more fun doing that than going out. They also policed the older kids telling them they were too old to “beg at this house.” We never had a bad experience and my adult kids still love Halloween.

The trend here is for organized activities for the kids. Good idea. Keeps them corralled in one place and off the streets.

They probably haul away about as much candy with less work and maybe have more fun in the process.

People come to our house more to get scared than for the candy. Of course, to get the good candy they have to go around to the backyard where all the scary things are. We welcome any age and even have special treats (bottled water, soda, and a place to sit down) for the adults.

One year I got “kids” with no costume, carrying a pillowcase, and who even standing down a step were still almost a head taller than me. That was the last year I gave out treats.

When we hit middle school in the 7th grade, the school told us we were too old to trick-or-treat anymore. I don’t know if that’s true anymore, but my folks lived in the same house we grew up in for 54 years, and never did have older kids knocking at the door.

Some of the older “kids” who show up at the door are scary. I would be afraid to tell them “no”, especially since my husband’s car is temporarily parked in the driveway instead of inside the garage.

And old enough to buy your own.

Some would say that a person is never too old to go trick-or-treating.

Sorry , I was typing too fast. What I meant to type was: “She’s too young to be Samantha (Sam), but the right age to be Sabrina” (the teenage witch). I’ll be glad when I get an i-pad for my Birthday or Christmas.

One of my pet peeves is that Halloween is often called a holiday. It is NOT a holiday.

I also keep my house dark and pull the blinds, or leave the house entirely. One year I didn’t get out of the house in time – it was still full daylight and the first kids knocked on the door. I didn’t have any candy, so I threw granola bars in their bags. It’s all I had. Served them right for coming so early.

Peter, it’s not a good idea to discuss a lady’s age.

NOOOO button

Thought I posted this yesterday … oops.

I still lament being too old to trick or treat. I’m not even a huge candy fan, I just liked the activity