I Confess, I am a Halloween Dodger

I admit it: I am a Halloween dodger. I hide from the trick-or-treaters.

Don’t act like I’m the only one!

I’ve been a dodger as long as I can remember. One Halloween, as a kid, we ended the evening by lining up at the police station to have our bags of goodies scanned.  It was during a time where evil people were putting razors in fruit or other dangerous objects in candy. Needless to say, after that experience, the thrill was gone.

Didn’t have to worry about it in college, and most of my adulthood I lived in apartment buildings or neighborhoods where there were very few kids running around.

This year, however, I am in a completely different space: a neighborhood rich with families that average 2.5 kids. In fact, I’m across the street from an elementary school. I’m sure the goblins, superheroes and princesses will be in full force next week!

I’m not completely bad, though. I usually have a next door neighbor who loves the idea of handing out candy, so I tend to contribute several bags of goodies for the cause to said neighbor. They’re happy. I’m happy. 

Dodging is easier during the week than the weekend. Weekdays provide more finite pockets of time for trick-or-treating. It’s a school night. It’s a work night. It’s gets dark crazy early nowadays!

So, if you’re a dodger like me, I’d like to offer up a few ideas on how to spend Monday night:

• Make that overdue hang-out time with a friend or friends happen.  Grab drinks somewhere. Try a new restaurant out together. Go shopping.
• Go volunteer somewhere
• Find a class to take for the evening. Maybe a cooking class at Sur La Table or similar venue.
• Go see a movie. This tends to be my personal favorite. There are a few movies debuting the weekend before, including Puss in Boots and In Time.  I also recommend The Three Musketeers if you haven’t seen it yet.

Go forth, fellow dodgers, and have some fun.