I remember Halloween. Things were different when I was a youngster.

Times were better then!

     Our neighbor, Mrs. Jelks, would invite all the children in to sit down for cake and cookies (she left her front door open in warm Southwest Florida).  Other neighbors would leave a bowl of candy on the porch for "self-service". 

  Today, Mrs. Jelks would be facing investigators from the Department of Child Services.  The bowl of candy on the porch would be emptied in minutes. 

Me too! That's what I remember as well. I tried to give my own kids a bit of this kind of childhood....within reason...and I'm happy they were able to have a very similar kind of experience. We always went down to Balboa Island where the streets were all one way with dead ends, so they could do both sides of the small streets while we watched from the end. Not quite the same, but close.

Times were certainly better then Lenn and Fred. Nowadays we have people driving into our neighborhood from other neighborhoods because they think the candy will be better in our neighborhood. Also, parents walking around with babies in strollers too young to eat solid food, yet the parents come right up and say "Trick or Treat" (because the baby can't talk), then grab some candy, like it's for the baby! 

Lenn~ Halloween has changed a lot. Now we have big public events, some inside, some outside. They are promoted as "safe and family-friend". It all used to be that way. Oh, the good old days!

We live on five acres in the country so we haven't had trick or treaters in years. 

Oh Lynn! I remember those days too! I sure do miss them for our children! I also love the picture of the skeleton buried in the ground.

Lenn Harley I really don't like halloween today....it's can be so dangerous....candy MUST be inspected and anything not wrapped must be thrown away....only select neighborhoods can be walked....and parents are always there today.... when I was a kid, we walked everywhere.... if a light was on, we would stop....if not, we'd go to the next one....we had no problem eating as we walked....nothing to inspect....

Yes, I hear Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gringold in the background. This is what it was like when I was younger, but then the razor blade scare came. I forget how old I was then.

People have lost their sense of adventure and fun.  We'd go out all the time at 8-years of age, and roamed the neighborhood only with one instruction from my Mom: Don't go to a house with no porch light on.  

The local reverend's wife dressed up as a witch and served us smoking punch (Hawaiian Punch with dry ice in it).  Complete with scary music and flickering lights.  And that in the 50s!

Never danger in anything.  And I got to stay out until 9.  How cool was that?

Lenn we grew up in much different times, and remember much the same as you.

Lenn, Halloween was an opportunity for my mom to get rid of old white sheets and we became scary, mind you, holy ghosts! Great times they were.

Hi Lenn,

You're right it is different today. I recently read that the only razors found in apples were actually placed there by the parents to collect insurance money 

Maybe it's because I'm older, but Halloween doesn't seem to be that much fun any longer.  What happened to the streets packed full of children running around terrifying each other Lenn Harley?

 Good morning Lenn Harley  I have to agree with you, things have really changed. It's sad that we have so many jobs out there who have nothing better to do than find ways to injure innocent children.

Hi Lenn, We are ready for the trick or treaters. I know the parents will be with them. It is only prudent in this day and age.

And yes, you are right, we had more fun when we were kids.

Bill Roberts

Lenn, We live so far out in the country that we haven't had a trick or treater at our door in the 23 years we've lived there.  I grew up in the South, mostly Louisiana, so a coat or sweater when our trick or treating wasn't ever a need.  Loved coming home with that big haul of candy!  Bill