As a kid growing up in Minnesota, I trudged through many first snowfalls on Halloween. We put on long johns under our costumes, grabbed our Applebaum's grocery bags and headed out into the blowing snow and cold. No measly snowflakes were going to put a halt to our quest for Baby Ruth, Clark bars and Butterfingers. In California, though, it's the rain that can drive away kids.
Ordinarily, we get a few hundred trick or treaters down our street in Old Land Park. I was prepared, too, with a 50-pound box of Ghirardelli chocolates (a gift from clients). Halloween at many homes in Land Park was very quiet this year, surprisingly quiet. But then, it was raining. It started to trickle down from the skies on Thursday -- up until this point, we had no rain in Sacramento for six months.
For days I had been reminding my husband that he promised to come home from work a bit earlier on Halloween so he could be responsible for handing out candy this year. He got off too easy. He should agree to take the Halloween shift next year, too. Every year I have been answering the door. It was his turn.
I heard one kid say, "Hey, man, don't walk on their lawn. They gave us candy!"
I looked out the window this morning to survey the neighborhood -- no squashed pumpkins, no candy wrappers, no toilet paper clinging to tree branches. Just rain.
Photo: Elizabeth Weintraub
The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from Archer Ellison in January 2009.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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Elizabeth, our trick or treater activity was quite busy, similar to last year. Sorry to hear that you had the rain which is an unfortunate timing that we all have to deal with if the clouds land on our head that particular evening. Glad no tricks were played upon you.
I miss the trick-or-treaters! Several years ago we moved to a dead end street, homes pretty far apart and no one would come down our long driveway...just too much work when they can go to a more densely populated neighborhood. I may have to go stay at a friend's house next year so I can see some little goblins!
Elizabeth
You have to admire the respect of that young man that did not walk on your yard.
You ate a 50 pound box of chocolates?
Someone like you will always be thinner; I even look at the box of chocolates and I would put on 50 pounds.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Elizabeth - I think the numbers are down. I was at my parent's house for the evening, and they only had 3 children come by...
Hi Gary: So who hands out the candy at your house? I'm betting that you do it. :)
Hi Colleen: You can come to my house. We generally have a lot of them.
Hi Tom: I haven't eat them all yet. In fact, how long does chocolate last before it goes bad? That's not a question I've ever had to ask before.
Hi Debi: I'm betting we had six groups of kids. Nobody came at dusk like they usually do. It wasn't until 6:30 or so before the first wave showed up. By 7 PM, it was quiet.
Elizabeth: Where do you find respectful kids that don't want to walk on your lawn? I had one kid, about 4 years old, that didn't like the candy I gave them, threw it back in my bowl and stuck their little hand in the bowl fishing for something better. I got the, "I don't want THAT," when she hurled it back in my bowl and never got a thank you. Her father stood there the whole time with his face turning red, but said NOTHING.
We had gorgeous weather and everyone looked like they had a wonderful time.
Where do I find respectful kids, Chris Ann? They are probably from the Projects (low-income housing) over on Muir.
Hi Terry: No, snow? That's pretty good.
Elizabeth- you gave out Ghiardelli's? I'm coming to your place next year, even in the rain. (I'll dress up as a Realtor, no one will recognize me)
We were at a wedding rehearsal dinner last night that lasted WWWAAAAYYYY into the night. More fun than I've had in years, but I did miss the little ones. I bought all that candy for nothing. And now I have enough sugar to keep me and my husband in a sugar rush for the rest of the year!
have a great weekend.
Linda
The long johns remind me of my Missouri Halloweens growing up. We had beautiful weather this year for a change in Central OR. You would think it would be nice here, but 2 years ago it was 25ish degrees out and most years it rains. There were some happy trick-or-treaters last night!
Hi Linda: Yeah, but it's a 50-pound box of individually wrapped chocolates that I will never consume by myself!
Hi Terri: So how warm was it in Oregon?
Don't tell Sherry Scales you got that much chocolate in your house....she'll make a special trip from Texas!
Bought enough for 100, only had 50.
Can I answer that there wasn't? That what it means living in a resort place diring a recession.
I live on the beachside just across the street from the ocean. I live in a condo. This is it. This is the description of a disaster.
In my building there are 197 (I think) units. The building is a cloverleaf, with a circular garage in the middle and 4 wings. 7 stories. There are 7 units per floor. On my floor in my wing we are the only permanently occupied unit. Some people come for a week or two, some come for holidays and long weekends, but besides those days, we are the only people on the floor. I think it is pretty much the same on other floors. And in other buildings.
My office is in the resort right on the ocean, so when I go home, I drive along the Ocean and all those condos. 3 lights uo on the north side, and 3-4 lights on the south side of anyu 21-story building.
I only see 11-12 y.o. twins here, and even with them I am not sure if they live here, or visit often. We do not have kids knocking on the door.
We still got the candy, though
Hey Nancy: I'll likely have enough chocolate left to see in the New Year.
Hi Jon: I saw you stopped by earlier. Now, that you have, I know why you might have wanted to gather your thoughts; you are bringing tears to my eyes. I'm sorry. Truly. Sooner or later it will turn around. It always does. Someday you will be looking out on Florida from your penthouse and saying, "I remember when George Bush was in office," and it will be different. I know.