“There is nothing funny about Halloween. This sarcastic festival reflects , rather, an infernal demand for revenge by children on the adult world.”
—-Jean Baudrillard (French sociologist, philosopher and cultural theorist)
Halloween is almost here, and although many children anxiously await this yearly candy fest, I can’t wait to see it gone. I never liked it much as a kid...being scared out of my wits was never my thing...and I liked it much less as an adult. It is an invitation for all of the crazies to come out and taint the treats while frightening the children. Parents spend a fortune on costumes that are always uncomfortable and send their children out to beg.
I was that mom who feared razor blades in apples, so I tried to bribe my kids into skipping trick or treating each year, to no avail and ended up with a scheme that cost me a fortune. I bought four identical “trick or treat” bags each year and filled two with an assortment of Mike and Beth’s favorite candies while they dressed in costumes. I gave them the two empty bags, and off we went. They came home with bags filled with a frightening assortment of junk, which I confiscated. We told them we would sort out the unwrapped and suspicious treats while they changed. Those bags hit the trash immediately, and when they returned the kids were given the bags we had prepared earlier. It worked for quite a few years, but I later found out that they realized what was going on after a couple of years and played along. They liked what they were getting and decided not to rock the boat.
I also had trouble rationalizing teaching children to beg for food. I know it is supposed to be fun, and I admit that the kids were all so adorable in their costumes, but the message always seemed wrong. “Give me a treat or I will trick you.” Sort of a politically correct way of saying “stick em up.” I know, I know...I sound like the Grinch who stole Halloween, but if it makes you feel any better, Arthur is always at the door handing out goodies and marveling at the costumes.
My blog is a bit short today, because we are preparing for a mini vacation to celebrate my sister Judy’s birthday. The four of us are off to a South Beach adventure. We have plans to eat in some of the top restaurants, visit some museums, hit the beach and most definitely partake in some top notch people watching. Next week’s blog should be filled with info on what to do and see at one of the most talked about beaches in the world.
Since I always find time for reading, this past week I read book one and two in Alan Lee’s Mackenzie August series. Last week I read/reviewed the stand alone prequel. Book one, August Origins helped us become a bit more involved in the lives of the main characters. In it Mack moves to a small city in Virginia and sets up shop as a private investigator. Sheriff Stackhouse, as witty as she is beautiful, asks him to go undercover in a local inner-city school to help her with a gang and drug problem. Maybe a bit too much like the prequel but equally enjoyable.
In Book two, The Second Secret, Mack is hired by Veronica (Ronnie) Summers to find a traitorous informant who helped send her father to jail. Dad is out now, and is as mean as ever, but Mack agrees to take the case because of his feelings for Ronnie. Again there is a lot of action and more insight into what makes Mack tick.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
—-Jean Baudrillard (French sociologist, philosopher and cultural theorist)
Halloween is almost here, and although many children anxiously await this yearly candy fest, I can’t wait to see it gone. I never liked it much as a kid...being scared out of my wits was never my thing...and I liked it much less as an adult. It is an invitation for all of the crazies to come out and taint the treats while frightening the children. Parents spend a fortune on costumes that are always uncomfortable and send their children out to beg.
I was that mom who feared razor blades in apples, so I tried to bribe my kids into skipping trick or treating each year, to no avail and ended up with a scheme that cost me a fortune. I bought four identical “trick or treat” bags each year and filled two with an assortment of Mike and Beth’s favorite candies while they dressed in costumes. I gave them the two empty bags, and off we went. They came home with bags filled with a frightening assortment of junk, which I confiscated. We told them we would sort out the unwrapped and suspicious treats while they changed. Those bags hit the trash immediately, and when they returned the kids were given the bags we had prepared earlier. It worked for quite a few years, but I later found out that they realized what was going on after a couple of years and played along. They liked what they were getting and decided not to rock the boat.
I also had trouble rationalizing teaching children to beg for food. I know it is supposed to be fun, and I admit that the kids were all so adorable in their costumes, but the message always seemed wrong. “Give me a treat or I will trick you.” Sort of a politically correct way of saying “stick em up.” I know, I know...I sound like the Grinch who stole Halloween, but if it makes you feel any better, Arthur is always at the door handing out goodies and marveling at the costumes.
My blog is a bit short today, because we are preparing for a mini vacation to celebrate my sister Judy’s birthday. The four of us are off to a South Beach adventure. We have plans to eat in some of the top restaurants, visit some museums, hit the beach and most definitely partake in some top notch people watching. Next week’s blog should be filled with info on what to do and see at one of the most talked about beaches in the world.
Since I always find time for reading, this past week I read book one and two in Alan Lee’s Mackenzie August series. Last week I read/reviewed the stand alone prequel. Book one, August Origins helped us become a bit more involved in the lives of the main characters. In it Mack moves to a small city in Virginia and sets up shop as a private investigator. Sheriff Stackhouse, as witty as she is beautiful, asks him to go undercover in a local inner-city school to help her with a gang and drug problem. Maybe a bit too much like the prequel but equally enjoyable.
In Book two, The Second Secret, Mack is hired by Veronica (Ronnie) Summers to find a traitorous informant who helped send her father to jail. Dad is out now, and is as mean as ever, but Mack agrees to take the case because of his feelings for Ronnie. Again there is a lot of action and more insight into what makes Mack tick.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
  |
  |
