Halloween Walk Through the Neighborhood

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I took a Halloween walk through the neighborhood with my wife and kids (aged 5 and 3 now).  This is the longest I have lived in one house - seven years.  The CEO and CFO of a previous company convinced my wife and me to finally buy a house in 2004.  We put offers on 7 other offers, but finally "won" our house when we were willing to go to the top of our escalator.  Yes, it was 2004.  I think we are about break-even on our house, but we love it.  In fact, my wife and I agree that the main reason we stay in Seattle is that we love our house and our neighborhood.  Now, 2 kids, a major remodel, and 7 years later, we are happier than we ever could be.

Tonight we left the house with Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, walked through the neighborhood - down 108th and then up 107th (the best Halloween street), and finally circled back home with two tired little girls.  

There aren't too many days of the year when you are actually welcome to knock on nearly every door in the neighborhood.  Here are some things I learned on my Halloween Walk through the Neighborhood:

1. The Neighborhood is getting older.  It was really interesting to see.  For some reason, the age of our neighbors really hit me this year.  The majority of our neighbors were in their 50's when we moved in.  Now our neighbors are getting close to their sixties.  A slip, a fall or an operation later.  The kids who were coming to our house for Trick or Treat are now teenagers handing out the candy at the door.  We're all getting older and it reminds us how human we all are.
2. The Neighborhood is getting younger too.  There were new faces too.  A number of young families have moved into the neighborhood.  It is weird not to be the "new family" in the neighborhood.  The new faces were excited to see us and meet us.  We were once that excited and outgoing.  I love the feeling of being "new" and I love seeing others enjoy that feeling.
3. Neighbors are disappearing.  On 107th, there was a man called the Soda Man.  Kids from all over the neighborhood would line up to see the Soda Man.  Why?  He gave out soda.  He had nearly every flavor of soda lined up and the kids could pick any kind they wanted.  Not very PC in our anti-obesity age, but the kids were excited and happy.  This year 107th was quiet.  We walked to what we thought was the Soda Man's house, but a nice young woman answered the door and gave the kids candy.  Was this the Soda Man's house?  What happened to the Soda Man?  He was an older man.  I hope he is okay.
4. The Neighborhood is getting darker.  There are a lot fewer street lights in the neighborhood these days.  There were also a lot fewer houses with lights on for Trick or Treat.  Is this the financial crisis hitting the Neighborhood or is Trick or Treat just competing with Monday Night Football this year?

We came home and the kids shuffled through their candy.  We got them ready for bed and kissed them goodnight, before we took our commission.  Butterfingers for me.  Peanut Butter Cups for my wife.  Opened milk duds in the trash.  No fruit this year.  The Halloween Gods have learned.

A satsifying Halloween all in all.

What is nougat any way?  Anyone know?

Niki