Friday, October 29, 2010

Flashback Friday # 17 ~ My boyhood Halloween times

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Granddaughter, KP, is 5000 miles away but we did get this orange Halloween shirt to her. They don't do much for Halloween in London where she lives now, especially dress up.

Between Skype, e-mail, and the U.S./U.K. mail facilities we do keep in touch with our kids and grandkids.

Halloween has been an even split in our family, part of it with the adults and part for the kids alone. Linda wants us to recap some of those earlier experiences we had.


All about our early Halloween fun time is what Linda wants from us this week. Linda asked several questions about us and how we celebrated. Click her icon, right, if you want to read others or participate in this with a blog post of your own.

Linda's questions and my answers:
What was Halloween like when you were growing up? Did your family participate? If not, was there a substitute activity?
Halloween was always a fun holiday for us kids. We had school activities and jack-o-lanterns at home. Mom helped carve the pumpkins.

Did your school or church have a fall festival or carnival? Were there stipulations regarding costumes? What sorts of activities did they have? What about Halloween parties?
There wasn't a festival but we did have an afternoon in-school party. It all depended on how creative the teacher and the older students were for what all we did. I remember bobbing for apples, playing games, and eating some candy and goodies.

Have you ever bobbed for apples or been on a hayride? What are your memories of "haunted houses"? (I'm not referring to the ultra-scary, secular ones, just the fun kid ones, with bowls of grapes and cold spaghetti!)
I didn't do any of these except for when I was in school. Later as a young adult and again with my own kids we did all of these.

What types of costumes did you wear? Were they store-bought or homemade?
We did have costumes sometimes but I'm not sure what they were. For sure we didn't buy anything so they were all homemade. Some of the kids had store-bought masks but we all made some from brown paper sacks too.

Did you carve a jack-o-lantern? How are your children's experiences similar or different to yours?
I used to always carve pumpkins both as a child and as a Dad. This year I won a nice pumpkin (see picture at right ) as a door prize with instructions to carve it.

But I am not going to do the carving. Hopefully by the time the November Men's Prayer Breakfast rolls around the carving instructions will all be forgotten.

My kids did most all of the things that suburban kids do. They wore costumes and 'trick or treated', had parties, traded candy, etc. After some malicious adults put razor blades in the candy trick or treating subsided for a bit.


And the most important question: Do you like candy corn?
I have always liked candy corn. But last year I overdosed; consequently I have sworn off candy corn and colored pumpkins for this year.

And since my gastroenterologist no longer allows me to have nuts just a lot of the chocolate candies are out. What is left for me that I like are 3 Musketeers, Butterfingers, Tootsie Rolls, and old fashion chocolate drops.

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Comments:
Enjoyed your memories Jim. Times sure have changed haven't they!
until next time... nel
 
I used to love carving pumpkins. I wanted the seeds to eat baked, with plenty of salt. YUM! ahaha. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend. Blessings, SusanD
 
Your granddaughter is precious! What a sweetie.

I enjoyed reading this.
 
Thanks for the memories...Your little dark-haired "punpkin" is precious! It's great that you can keep in touch with her through our modern technology, isn't it? Have a great weekend! Kathy
 
Your granddaughter is adorable. I know you already know that.

How fun to relive what Halloween was for you and for your kids. Excellent.

Have a terrific day. Big hug. :)
 
What a doll she is Jim. I hope she has a nice Holloween even if the Brits are not too hot on the event! ~ jb///
 
Really enjoyed your memories...and your little granddaughter is adorable! Both my grandsons live far away, and it's awful. :(

Hope you'll stop by my blog when you can!
 
Going to country school at halloween meant dressing up for a halloween party. Mom would take us around to the neighbors for trick or treat or maybe take us into town and go around "Grandma's block". I do remember being in a halloween parade/contest one year and got second place as a hobo.

I am going to vist my grandaughters near Portland, OR next week. Can't wait.
 
dear mr. jim..it is past midnight and so it is your birthday,
come and see me tomorrow afternoon and i will have something for you!
bring adi too!...love terry
 

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