[fameintatenly]

Believe it or not, most parents here seem to feel caught up in a commercial whirlwind when it comes to Halloween and all the holidays. If asked, I think most would say they disapprove of everything being so commercialized, but go ahead and allow themselves and their children to be sucked in.

For days now I've been hearing parents and grandparents discussing how to make Halloween fun, safe, and relatively commercial free. Many are making their own costumes. Other's join their own little groups for parties in homes or churches.

When I was little I always looked forward to Halloween when we would go to a festival at school organized by the PTA. Since my parents raised me in the waste not want not tradition, costumes were home made. I finally got tired of being dressed as a disciple (old sheet) !

When I stopped by my uncle's house a few days ago there was another visitor, a very religious man, saying it was originally satan's day. I don't get into discussions of that nature. The young lady who stays with him during the day said her son is going to be a vampire, but that her mother disapproves and wants him to be made up as a cute animal.

I probably won't have any trick or treaters since I'm a bit off the beaten path, maybe just children or grandchildren of friends coming to show off their costumes. I don't buy candy becuase it would have to be something I like and we all know how that would end. Nibble, nibble, nibble . . .

I have two decorations, one being the little witch doll which is currently my avatar. (No, it's not my photograph - I don't have curly hair) She is sitting on a little wooden bench by my front door. When you squeeze her hand she recites "double, double toil and trouble . . . ". I enjoy sharing her with kids. My other item of Halloween decor is a pumpkin, which we will eat next week.