Halloween 2011

Plot bought (3) 150-piece bags of candy from Costco, thinking that would be more than enough. Of course, he and Duck dug into one of the bags a week early, but only removed a few of the Snickers and Milky Ways to put in the freezer for the dark snowy winter that is almost upon us. And maybe one or two Twixes. OK, a tiny inconsequential bag or two of peanut M&Ms. ONE freaking Almond Joy.

That's a lot of candy at one piece per kid, and yet by 7:30 it was all gone. Avanna from next door might have come over more than once but who's counting?

Kids were swarming up and down 26th of October Street for at least another half hour after that, dressed in the finest home-made and store-bought costumes. It was windy, of course, so the parents accompanying the kids were wrapped up a little more, but they were in costume too. Halloween is the Number One Holiday in this burg.

What? ANOTHER UPS driver? Plot never thought he'd see another one after Isabella wore hers two years ago. (Plot thinks the UPS man's dad might think of moving his devil ears forward.)

SO many kids, so many costumes. Plot kept trying to take pictures but it takes the flash a lot longer to set up than it does for the kids to run next door for their next handout. This gorgeous little clown had some patience.

There was a kid selling vacuum cleaners, sales pitch and all. There were countless princesses and Spider Men (still the favorite little girl and little boy outfits), no political masks (no George Bushes like in previous years, nor Rick Perrys nor Michele Bachmanns). There were several kids wearing a costume Plot didn't recognize, even though they had their character name spelled out: Angry Spider. Turns out 'Angry Spider' is a video game on the I-Phone. Plottie learned something last night, but he already knew it: he doesn't own an I-Phone.

All the neighbors were out -- pirate Keith looks like he is wearing a STOP sign earring.

Cheryl made pumpkin pie and Carlo and Athena had chile and mulled wine and everyone stood on the street, shivering, laughing with the delighted kids filling up their bags long after Plot and Duck ran out of treats. The only down side for Plottie was that his neighbor Ray had his light off for the first year since Plot and Duck have lived here. He always has a small bowl with around ten pieces of candy in it, and every year crosses the street to marvel at all the kids on the block. But Plot has seen Ray going downhill for several years, since his wife Pat died, and this can't be a good sign.

We hear the weather was great in Brooklyn last night. We missed Bellybone on Halloween but it's hard to imagine being anywhere more fun than right here.