It rained last night in Northern Virginia.  Definitely not the kind of weather you want to see on Halloween.  Kids that were out were down because they had to wear waterproof garb over their costumes, or carry umbrellas.  Bummer.

There was one child that really stood out in last night's lackluster Halloween procession to my front door.  It was a little boy trick-or-treating with his sister, accompanied by his Dad.  This youngster had turned lemons into lemonade.  As I opened the door and greeted them, this young man (no more than four years old) put his little hand out with an upside down, fairly large frog to show me.  It wasn't moving so I thought it was plastic. 

Nope!  It moved.  It was real.

I asked his father if he knew the "friend" that his son was traveling with.  The father replied, "He found him hopping on someone's driveway and he's had him in his bucket ever since."

While other kids were lamenting about the weather, the weather had actually given this little one a special friend.    And I as gave two pieces of candy for being so kind to the frog, he put his new found buddy on top of the candy and headed off.  He was the happiest child I'd seen all night.

That is a trick-or-treater I'll never forget!  Just goes to show you that despite the bad stuff that tends to surround us lately, if you look close enough, there are great opportunities out there. 

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker- Licensed in Virginia, GRI, SFR, Northern Virginia Short Sale Specialist. Affiliated with Long & Foster, 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155.  To contact Chris Ann, call 703-402-0037 or email chrisann@LNF.com.  Or you can visit her website:  www.nvarealestate.net.

Header photos taken by Chris Ann Cleland.

The opinions expressed in this post are those of Chris Ann Cleland, not those of Long & Foster REALTORS®.

 
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97 Comments on A Lesson From Last Night's Most Memorable Trick-or-Treater

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

NOV
02
2009
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Darrell:  The people that have fun no matter what are the ones I try to associate with.  Life's too short.

Christine:  Certainly does seem that way.  I'm sure life will test him as the glitches get more and more "interesting" and trying.

Stephen:  Thinking I should go get this book.
5:59pm • #78
1,125,605 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Our neighborhood is "aging." When we moved in, we had tons of kids. Last week... we got 2!

I had bought bags of pretzels, so at least I'm not stuck with bags of candy that I'll be forced to eat.

Nice lesson, Chris Ann
6:02pm • #79
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Marney:  There's always a reason to smile if we keep our eyes and hearts open to it.

Chris:  Couldn't have said that one better myself.  How you treat the defenseless among us (kids and animals) says everything about you.

Heather:  That is precious.  I think Halloween will always be my favorite night of the year...next to Christmas Eve.
6:03pm • #80
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Damon:  The little things make it all worth while.

Ronald:  For me, I learn these lessons from other people's kids.  Have none of my own.

Chuck:  The good news is that his sister (dressed as a princess) seemed to not be frightened of the frog in the least.  Maybe it was her Prince Charming.
6:05pm • #81
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Kate:  This was the first Halloween I ever remember it being so icky with regard to weather.  Wind and cold are one thing, but never recall it raining.

Michelle: This was a Halloween weather first in our area.

Clifford:  I'm sure that melted chocolate would be annoying.
6:07pm • #82
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Rich:  Haven't seen you in a while.  We must be just missing one another.

Joyce & Terry:  Positive stories are the best.

William:  Most of the folks here on AR are positive. 

 
6:10pm • #83
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Richard:  Now a street party sounds like fun.  Been a long time since I've seen one of those.

Kristi:  Frogs are plentiful here in Bristow, VA.  I had never seen one on my lawn until moving here.  We are very close to wetlands.

Liz:  Couldn't agree more!
6:12pm • #84
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Chris Ann - Thanks for the great story! Where we live now we don't have so many trick-or-treaters but we used to have a lot in our Maryland neighborhood. Although I gotta tell you I don't miss the rain so much :-)
6:12pm • #85
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Claire:  I agree with you.  That frog was definitely more special that any piece of candy I could have given him.

Erica:  I still buy chocolate..things I love.  Bad when there is leftovers, but then again, that's why I buy what I love.  Who needs dinner when there's leftover chocolate?  :)
6:14pm • #86
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Christianne:  The rain sucks!  Never saw it on Halloween before this year.
6:19pm • #87
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I think I would have jumped more than the frog! What a fun memory!
7:07pm • #88
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Chris Ann, I thought the little trick or treaters were pretty polite this year, wishing me a Happy Halloween.
7:09pm • #89
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Cheryl:  I see a lot of frogs since moving into this house in 2005. 

Gary:  I'm glad to hear it.  Nothing erks me more than kids coming to your door for candy and being disrespectful and entitled.
7:22pm • #90
439,104 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Chris~  That little boy sounded so cute!  I have a little gandson and I can just see him doing something like that when he gets a little older!  Hey!  It could have been a mouse  he was carrying around...YIKES!!
7:40pm • #91
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Hi Chris Ann: I read your blog this morning and then got sidetracked, so I had to make a point to come back and tell you how much I enjoyed it. It's the little weird things that happen that make for such enjoyable reading, and I'm glad you shared it.

Not that I care much for frogs, mind you. A few years ago in the jungles of Equador, I was sleeping in this hut with netting tucked in around my bed. I woke up because it was raining very hard and a frog was croaking. Loudly. Even louder as the rain pelted the thatched roof. He was maybe 5 inches from my head, and I couldn't open my eyes. All I could do was pull the pillow over my head so it wouldn't jump on my face.

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7:43pm • #92
1,125,605 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Chris Ann ... I agree 1000% with you. Which is why I don't buy chocolate. If it's not in the house, I cannot eat it.
8:18pm • #93

Chris Ann - that was a great story!  I'm not too fond of frogs myself, so I would have certainly freaked out.  Thanks for sharing your story.  My 6 year old son wasn't in the spirit for Halloween the other evening.  We went trick or treating in SF, were there are stairs galore.  After the first block, he gave his bag to his dad and asked him to go up for him.  :=)
8:18pm • #94
NOV
03
2009
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Vickie:  A mouse?  Yikes.  At that point I would have been thankful to have five cats.

Elizabeth:  That's an interesting story...and an interesting part of your life I haven't heard about yet.  Equcador, huh?

Erica:  I think next year it'll be lollipops or something I would never touch. 

Emily-Ann:  I just showed some property where there were huge staircases going up to the front doors of these townhouses.  I thought, "Gosh, it must suck to trick or treat in this neighborhood."  So I guess your story is evidence that kids get tired of walking up and down stairs.
4:43pm • #95

That was me in my childhood. If it rained or snowed on Halloween, I was out playing in the rain or snow. Who needs candy when one can get all wet and dirty? LOL
8:34pm • #96
NOV
04
2009
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Russel:  The elements can be fun if your folks will let you out in them.
12:07pm • #97

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Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

Bristow, VA

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Long & Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA

Address: 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA, 20155

Office Phone: (703) 402-0037

Cell Phone: (703) 402-0037

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