Health & Fitness
Being on Candy Patrol is a Pleasant Hallowed Surprise
Among the 2011 edition of Riverhead's trick or treaters, there was one constant behavior that rang throughout the night which was a pleasant surprise - kindness.
Every Halloween, I am split between two duties:
1) Stay at home and stand watch on "Candy Patrol."
2) Don't stay at home and go to concert or sporting event, like a Rangers hockey game or seeing "Zappa Plays Zappa" perform in the city.
This year, with not a lot of concerts in the area that I'd like to see on a Monday night, Monty Hall recommended I take Door #1 and stay on Candy Patrol.
I usually really enjoy candy patrol, greeting trick or treaters and parents alike, giving thumbs up on their costumes, albeit it's always difficult to estimate exactly how much candy I will need (especially so I don't get stuck with extra candy to eat afterwards).
We have an active neighborhood that is very popular with trick or treaters as there's low car traffic, it's contained and a lot of parents who grew up in this neighborhood who enjoy bringing their children here to trick or treat just like they did.
Some years, we get roughly 50 kids, some years 100, others in between.
This year for some reason, we had well over 125 kids, and considering we live in an age of significant media, reality TV featuring brutally bratty behavior on shows like "Sweet Sixteen," peer pressure influence and a seemingly "me, me, me" era, there was one constant behavior that rang throughout the night that was a pleasant surprise:
Kindness.
Literally every trick or treater that came to my door, regardless of age, creed or background, were super pleasant, sweet, kind and appreciative.
Virtually every child graciously said "thank you" (even very young children who weren't goaded on by their parents in asking "what do you say?" when they receive a treat), most said "Happy Halloween" and "have a good night."
So, for all you parents who regularly guide your children into good behavioral habits in saying things like "thank you," I say "thank you."
As the saying goes, "a spoonful of sugar goes farther than a gallon of vinegar."
Even excessive Halloween sugar in the form of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
