A stranger in the night

                                                                             
Ever since I can remember we were taught never to talk to strangers. Not only could we not talk to them, but we were never to take candy from them, EVER!

It's what I grew up with so it's what my boys learned from an early age as well. Strangers were people who like to steal little children by luring them away with candy and cute puppies. Once in their clutches they would sell them to child labor camps.

My boys didn't see what the big deal was. The work couldn't be any worse than at home and better yet, these guys had candy.

We are a family that celebrates Halloween. We carve pumpkins, dress up and yes even take candy from strangers. I'd take the boys trick or treating in wind, rain, sleet or snow. It didn't matter the weather, we would bundle up just to rake in the goodies until they were begging me to take them home. "We're tired, my feet hurt, can we go home now?" But until every last bell was rung, we'd finished out the night.

I don't have any children to trick or treat with anymore, even worse our house is off the beaten path so nobody dares to come down the dark col de sac. I'd bribe my friends with young children and promise them the best treats if they would come by. Even at that it was a small handful ghosts and ghouls who would humor a desperate old lady.

Last year Halloween fell on a Sunday so I knew my church friends wouldn't be coming around with their children. It fell into the category of honoring the Sabbath. I thought Halloween was exempt, heck it's the only day we get to talk to strangers and take candy from them so why couldn't we trick or treat on a Sunday as well.

 It's HALLOWEEN people!

Regardless I had all this candy and no children so on our way home from Granny's Sunday dinner I had my husband drive via a neighborhood. This neighborhood was swarming with princesses, power rangers, batmen, robots, witches, you name it, they were there.

I was in my glory.  I figured if the kids weren't going to come to my house, I had to go to them.

I rolled the window down and started handing out candy. Hey kids, I would shout, want some candy? They gave me a strange look, but would still come to the window and take it. We kept driving around and passing out candy until the treats were gone.

Once I got my Halloween fix, I realized I was the very person I told my kids to stay away from. I was a stranger passing out candy, I had cute puppies and....I once owned and operated a Child Labor camp.