Halloween

You know, I really hate Halloween. I consider it a horrible holiday. Think about it, kids go around from house to house begging for candy, and playing tricks on people who don't have any. Doesn't this sound like it should be illegal? In fact, any other day of the year, other than October 31st, it would be. Why then is it okay to do this on this one day of the year?

Don't call me a scrooge for disliking (loathing, actually) Halloween. I love Christmas, I can't wait for Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day is awesome, but Halloween just bugs me. Before I was married (4 years ago), I used to plan to not be home on Halloween. Some years I'd hide in my classroom at school until very late correcting papers (I teach sixth grade). I'd arrange to get home well after the last "trick-or-treat-ers" had stopped knocking on people's doors. I'd let my sister know she could stop by the school with her two little boys to pick up their Halloween candy, but no one else would be able to find me.

Now, my wife makes me help her pass out candy. I'm in charge of grabbing hold of the dogs so they don't get out and she gives out the treats. I hate it. It's not like we get that many kids, either. Last year we set a new record: 4. But I still hate it.

School will be interesting tomorrow. The kids will either be riding sugar-highs, or sugar-lows. Either way, it will be nuts. I think November 1st should be a national school-day-off.