Happy Halloween!

How soon does one begin eating candy on Halloween? Do we wait until after breakfast? We all know the candy’s in the kitchen, ready to go in a bowl later tonight. Just sitting there. In nice foil wrappers. Chocolate and peanut-buttery goodness.

We get a modest number of Trick-or-Treaters here in our neighborhood. It’s not like the 300+ people my sister in Tulsa gets on her doorstep every year, but we get enough to notice. I have a partly gnawed pumpkin (thanks, squirrel) to carve later, and a couple of bags of snack-size Reese’s. For clarification, we do say “Ree-sees” here (to rhyme with “Ree-sees Pee-sees).”

In the spirit of this moody, messy time of year, I’ve just reread Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I have to say, it stands up over time. I’m in awe of the way Speare creates the Puritanical world of Wethersfield, CT back in the late 1600’s and weaves it into the complicated love, oppression, and natural beauty of Kit’s existence. I must have been about thirteen when I first read it, and I recall that it was the first novel I ever recommended to my mother. I was so proud when she liked it, too.

Whether you’re snuggled at home reading tonight or out knocking on doors, have a fun Halloween!