Happy Halloween everyone! I used to look at trick or treating with a bit of disdain. As I grew older, I felt that it was insulting to go to a stranger's house and be forced to sing for amusement in exchange for one measly piece of candy. Especially since you could get several bags of candy for mere pennies just the next day. Now, I am of the opinion that for the amount of money people spend on candy these days, how they get their jollies from the children (within reason!!!) for the out exchange of candy is none of my business. I guess I just feel as though trick or treating is a lost art now. And that makes me sad. Instead of spending the few hours walking around the block and being proud of the several pillowcases of candy you had to drag home, children are walking around malls, in the comfort of heat no less, and don't have to take one step around the block. People are buying heaps of candy for children who no longer ring their doorbells. On top of that, the weather is getting increasing disagreeable and parents don't want to release their children to -15 degree weather to go tromping around the block for candy! AND, the world just appears to be getting more dangerous (especially in a post 9/11 world) and parents can't be blamed for being mistrusting of strangers out there. But still, it is sad to think of trick or treating becoming obsolete. Although I used to be critical of Halloween in previous years, I now envy those youthful children who look forward to dressing up and recieving candy. And more than that, I envy those children for having something to do on Halloween! It sure as hell beats dressing up and "trick or treating" in your living room with your significant other, giving away candy you bought together the day before. In fact, anything beats the hell out of doing that! Could we be any lamer?