where did Halloween go?

When I think of Halloween, I think of the one I spent back when I was 9, 20 years ago now.

I can't think of a more perfect way to spend it. My parents were still together, and it was a Friday. No school the next morning meant being able to stay up even later.

My costume was homemade by someone my mother knew. This womans son was in my cub scout troop, and I can't remember his name. The only thing I remember is what he looked like, and that I thought he was an asshole. The costume was E.T. I was in the running for best costume in my class, but I think the guy that won was dressed up as ALF.

Halloween was always a fun day, and the wait for it to get dark outside was torture. Trick-or-Treating, bitches! If I ever got to be a kid again, that is the first thing I would want to do.

We ended up going with my parents and some of the kids that lived on our street, and their parents. I remember the candy haul being especially good that year. While we were out, my dad decided that pizza would be a good idea, so he would chant "pizza pizza pizza" with us kids. And of course, we all got our way. We went to Round Table, had good pizza, and played video games.

After we got home, my dad took me to the haunted house they used to have at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds. While we were there, we saw 5 guys dressed as grim reapers, and my dad said he and I needed to dress like that the following year. We never did sadly. The line was long, and took a few hours to get through, but it was worth it. This was the best haunted house that has ever existed. They went out of their way to make it scary, and I doubt I will ever see another one quite like it. The funniest part was watching a woman come running out screaming her head off. My dad said she was drunk.

I have often said that this was the best night I ever had when I was a kid, and defined for me the way Halloween should be.

This year, I carved a pumpkin but didn't light it(no candles). Yes, I suppose I could have done better, but there were no kids out anyway. We had about 5 trick-or-treaters come to our door. So I ask, what has happened to Halloween?

It seems ever year I see less and less people come to the door. It was like this last year, and previous years while living in different locations. Modesto was like this, and so was Vancouver. I spent a Halloween in San Jose back in 98, and I did not see a lot of people then either. I don't see as many houses decorated as I used to.

Now, is this me just not noticing, the area I live in, or is Halloween.. dying? With how paranoid people are these days about shit like terrorists, child predators, poison in the candy, I would not be surprised. I suppose I will find out next year when Conner goes for the first time.

I will say this. Not liking Halloween should be punishable by anal violation with a rabid rhinoceros, no lube.