All Hallow's Eve

Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep.
But why? What for? How? Who? When! Where did it all begin?
'You don't know, do you?' asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud climbing out
under the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree. 'You don't REALLY know!'

--Ray Bradbury
from 'The Halloween Tree'

Halloween. From its origins to present day is a far stretch of imagination. Today its more like a begging festival as kids go door to door lugging not the little plastic pumpkin that we toted as kids, but pillow cases to hold their loot! Did people give out much less when I was a child or are today's Halloween goodies supersized like the rest of the North American diet?

Living in the country as I do, not many children show up and the ones that do are driven by their parents. Today, only one set of kids turned up, so they got about half of the bag of Caramilk bars that I bought. I know I should buy something that I hate, so I won't be tempted to eat them. However, I'm not in a chocolate mood, so they're safe tonight.

Tripod, also known as Dr Love because of his supersmoochy nature, the stray cat, has ventured into the house now. He's still timid but his need for heat and companionship over rides his need to panic. He does race for the door at sudden sounds and movement but is getting calmer by the day. As I write this he's stretched out on the sofa, asleep. Food, heat and a pat on the head works the same for all living creatures it seems.

This sketch amused me. The twinning of the girl and the carved pumpkin was too good to resist.

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