#trickoreat

November 1st 2017

9:00pm

So last night I went trick o’ treating and it was wonderful. A lot of people really liked my suffragette costume. One lady said “Are people telling you they appreciate your costume... because I am...then she went into her kitchen and gave me a full size candy bar.”Sometimes in people’s eyes I caught a twinge of pity, or something. “Are you in it for the candy?” “Are you 3..4...” One guy said jokingly “124. I responded.” “I think you need a bigger bag.” Said another “Ghosts need more rights to vote.” They laughed, but a lady hesitated to give me candy. “Go Josie,” they had to say.

Those were only a few situations though. For the most part, the overwhelming part, I got a lot of positive feedback and all smiles.

Someone asked to go with me from the house. I swung my arms and said: “Oh. Thank you, I think I’d prefer to go by myself though.” In the cold on the night I nearly went back and asked if she still wanted to go. I didn’t though. I was worried it would mess up the 2 hours of walking I did.

Here are the rules I suggest if you’re going trick or treating as a “grown up kid” as one woman put it.

1. Make sure your costume is kick ass. Contacts, makeup. The whole thing. You’ve got to put on a show if you want to swing this thing. Humor, uniqueness, and wit are all assets to a costume. Baffle them with brilliance to dissuade judgement.

2. Go to houses that are well decorated. Those people are in the Halloween spirit and are going to appreciate the costumes much more.

3. Get a squad and get in character.

4. Consider a full body costume where people can’t your skin, no matter what age you are.

5. Appear confident, kind and respectful.

6. Trick or treat between 7-8:30pm. After that things begin to shut down.

7. Find a small child to act as a decoy.

8. Remember to enjoy!

That was the part I got caught in. I became so anxious/obsessive near the end that I hardly had time to enjoy.

The lights, the children, the smiles. The guy handing out hot chocolate and apple cider on the side of the street. The moon. The excitement.

Honestly, I think I just like the act off walking around, knocking on doors, smiling faces. Candy is a bonus.

It was a great night.