Halloween in the 'Ham, redux
By Wade KwonOne last party. One last report.
Before we review the costumes, we share the distrubing trends among young trick-or-treaters. Namely, no costumes. You know, it kinda violates the Halloween spirit if you show up for candy and don’t bother with the costume part. And worse, seeing parents drive their kids from house to house is simply shameful.
Back to the costumes.
We gazed upon the topical (military attack dolphin accidentally loosed during Katrina) and the classic (“A Clockwork Orange”). And the sometimes funny, usually disturbing men in drag (J. Edgar Hoover, very pregnant housewife, early-era Prince).
Our iPod-based costume of the evening was one of the shadowy dancing figures from the older commercials. And even BJ came up with costume No. 2, Mr. Clean.
And we mustn’t forget Napoleon Dynamite (even if the DVD has been out for nearly a year).
Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 11:15 pm
So if parents can’t afford a costume or don’t have the time between working two or three jobs to make one, the kids should be punished? I don’t agree.
And as for the parents driving them, we live in a dangerous world. If following their child’s progress down the street but staying in the car makes a parent feel better but still gives the kids a sense of confidence, then why not?
On the other hand, I’m against the idea of taking kids to the richer area of town in the hopes of scoring better candy. Neighborhood building can’t take place without neighbors and halloween is traditionally a time that brings streets/communities together.
Hopping down the soapbox now.
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 12:43 am
I don’t think kids missing out on trick or treating is the end of the world. It’s not punishment — it’s life.
My beef with parents driving kids isn’t parents keeping a watchful eye on them. It’s parents letting kids ride a few feet instead of hoofing it. Gotta burn off that sugar somehow. My dad or mom was content to wait at the mailbox while we went to the door.