Poor Pumpkin

GDG

The pumpkin looks quite nervous.

And he has good reason why.

It's his first time in this position,

and he's really very shy.

GCDG

But the other cause of his distress-

and when I tell you this you'll cry-

He's heard Thanksgiving's coming,

and he's heard of pumpkin pie!

GD  DCG

Poor pumpkin, poor pumpkin,

Makes you want to cry.
Poor pumpkin, poor pumpkin,
Bound for pumpkin pie!

GD DCG
Poor pumpkin, poor pumpkin,
Nothing he can do.
Poor pumpkin, poor pumpkin,
Glad that I'm not you!

Photo plagirized from a post by Batton Lash.

Midnight and the Great Pumpkin

Every year at this time Midnight gets a bit nervous. The appearance of the Pumpkins is his first clue that something major is about to happen. Then the Witches and Goblins appear, followed closely by the dreaded Trick or Treaters, who completely baffle him. He usually hides just out of sight to watch this annual parade of the dead and undead. He sees lots of things going into their sacks, but nothing ever comes back out. That is frightening to him.

Midnight is an asset to my blog. He gets fan mail. Really! And these people expect answers to their notes. Most of the time I answer for him, as his paw printing is still not what it should be. He is, after all is said and done, a stray. And getting him to attend school on a regular basis is somewhat akin to trying the same thing with Huck Finn; that is; it’s just not going to happen. So I write something nice and just affix his paw print to it before sending it on.

But, for all of his skittishness concerning the Halloween ritual, he is always back at his post, sitting on the porch at about midnight; the hour for which he is named; waiting, like Linus, for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin. It hasn’t happened yet, but when it does Midnight intends on being there to greet him.

"Trick or Treat" with Donald Duck (1952)

Donald Duck gets a hard lesson from his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie when he tries to cheat them out of a bit of candy for Halloween. We all had neighbors like this when we were kids. They’d either not answer the door, or throw a penny or two in your bag at best. Chalk was invented for people like that.

Of course my favorite Halloween memory involves hurling an egg 5 stories up from the center of Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn, where it sailed perfectly into an open kitchen window. No one stuck their head out to yell, and maybe nobody was even home. If not they must have wondered how the egg got out of the refrigerator in the first place. But, I digress.

With the aid of a witch, Donald’s nephews literally are able to make their Uncle dance to their own tune. And before it is over he will learn to respect the yearly tradition of trick or treating. The cartoon was produced by Disney Studios and released via RKO in time for Halloween 1952. There was even a poster for the release, which I have shown below.

Jack Hannah directed this cartoon. The title song, “Trick or Treat” was written by Paul J. Smith and is performed in that perfect 1950’s harmony by a group called the Mellowmen. Clarence Nash is the voice of Donald, and his nephews; while the voice for Hazel is provided by June Foray.

Midnight - My Halloween Cat

Midnight is all set for Halloween. With a pumpkin and broom for company, he is a welcome, and distinct, addition to our holiday decor. He has adapted nicely to the change in weather, opting to live down the road by the storm drain culvert, where it is relatively warm. Coupled with meals at our place, he seems to be healthier, and more playful, than when he adopted us a few months ago.

The shelters here are all full, and no-one seems to want him, so I guess he's mine now. It's kind of cool to have him greet Sue and I when we arrive home, and with his distinctive "Meow", there is no mistaking his presence. And, just like me, he enjoys talking, although I have not yet mastered his language. No matter, he enjoys talking, and loves to have his head scratched while he does.

So, tonight he will be with us at the front door, giving out candy. He gets his cut, though. Before he goes "home" each evening, I give him some microwaved canned liver, or chicken. And, if he's been especially helpful, he gets real people tuna fish.

Well, have a safe and fun Halloween. There's only a sliver of moon tonight, so it will be especially dark and scary. Wear something bright, and be safe!

Addendum:

It's now almost 8 PM and the crowd of kids is thinning out. Here is an assortment of some of the kids who came to haunt us - and left with chocolate....

A Pirate and a Princess....

2 Princesses with a Mummy for protection....

2 girls from down the street....

2 boys from down the street. I love the jester cap. Quasimoda lives!

The Rural Hill Corn Maze

I went to this event a couple of years ago and have never been back. It sounds so easy, but take it from me, it's not for the faint at heart. The corn is over head high, and the maze turns back upon itself many times, leaving one disoriented, and in my case, annoyed. They actually have people stationed in towers, so that they can see you if you are lost. At the beginning of the maze you are given a pole with a flag on it to wave if you need help. When the flag is waved, one of the people in the tower nearest you, will talk you through the maze, taking you to the opening. But these people are known to have a bit of fun with those that get a little lost, as happened to me a few years ago.

I was walking the maze, confident in my ability to squire my wife through the maze in record time. Over confidence, my first mistake. Then I decided to use the sun to guide me, keeping careful track of the time as I did so, in order to orient myself better. Second mistake. Then I began to get annoyed, which led to being a bit angry, which led to my waving my flag furiously in an advancing state of panic. You know, corn can look awfully threatening when it's that tall, and all around you!

Eventually the man in the tower gave me directions, which, after 15 minutes of walking, had me right back at the base of the same tower. The man in the tower was having a high time of it- no pun intended- leading people in a circle, while watching them from above. So I asked him again, this time in a more nuanced manner, which way was out.

Now, I'm not sure if it was the manner in which I posed the question, or if the Bic lighter I was flicking with my thumb had any bearing upon the situation, but this time I was directed in a straight line towards the emergency opening. Like I said, it sounded so easy at the time, but as I discovered, it's not for the faint of heart.

Halloween - Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween to everybody. The Trick or Treating began at 6 and went on until 8. We had all sorts of ghouls and goblins. We even had some politicians and super heroes as well. Halloween is so much different now then when I was a kid. Gone are the days of "egging" passing cars and "chalking" the stoops of the folks who didn't answer the door. The kids now are almost always accompanied by adults. Too many "Nightmare On Elmstreet" movies I suppose. Today's parents tend to think that there is a real Freddy Krueger lurking behind every door.

When I was about 3 years old the TV station used to broadcast "The Wizard of Oz" every Halloween. And let me tell you, those Flying Monkeys scared the hell out of me! Come to think of it, they still do...

Some things never change, while other traditions come and go. Halloween seems to be here to stay. And I like that. The kids get to use their imaginations, and the adults get to have a bit of fun. Some of the grownups come along with their kids dressed as Stripers, Klondike Dance Hall Girls, French Maids and an assortment of titillating costumes. The men are usually dressed as, hmmmm.... I guess I'm too busy looking at the French Maids and the Klondike Girls. I wasn't going to dress up as anything this year, but at the last minute I opted to be a Human Pumpkin, as evidenced by the shirt I am wearing.

So, to all of you who are trick or treating, as well as those that are giving out the candy, Happy Halloween! Have a good one, a safe one and have some extra candy on me.

2nd Annual Fall Festival - The Villages of Skybrook North

The Village of Skybrook North, where I live, held it's 2nd Annual Fall Festival yesterday. It was a perfect day, clear and sunny, about 70 degrees. In addition to the float thing pictured here, there was barbecue, provided by Troutman's BBQ, and various dishes and deserts made by the people, some of whom I actually knew, of the neighborhood.

At this time of year, as the days turn into nights so quickly, it's great to see all the neighbors planning Hallowen stuff for the kids. This year some of the neighborhood children will gather at a neighbors house for a pre Trick or Treat Party. There, they will be stuffed with things to prepare them for the yearly blitz of candy.

I'm a loner by nature, so I usually show up late for these things, and even then I don't stay long. But a word of thanks is in order to those neighbors, my wife Sue included, for taking the time, and caring enough, to keep all the neighbors engaged with one another. It makes all the difference in the world. It is the choice between merely living in a neigborhood, versus co-existing as a community. We prefer the latter.

More pictures posted by Sue at;

http://cid-4adb2ac497dc71c6.photos.live.com/play.aspx/Community%20Picnic%20October%2023%5EJ%202010?Bsrc=EMSHYH&Bpub=SN.Notifications

The Fork and The Spoon

They weren't always like this. I remember them in black and white from the fifties when they were just my Favorite Aunt Gloria and my soon to be Uncle Bobby. They have changed a little over the years, but not too much. The picture above was taken on Halloween aboard the Norwegian Jewel. They went on a cruise to celebrate a landmark birthday, they are both the same age.

They are still as much fun and as playful as when they were young. I'm 15 years younger, but I feel 20 years older than them. What keeps them laughing and roaming around while I am drying up?

I look at the pictures through the years and they are always there- big smiles- not phony ones- real smiles. You can see that they enjoy the things they do. And part of that has to be that they enjoy one another.

These are the same two newlyweds who used to take me to Breezy Point when I was a kid. This is the same Aunt Gloria that took me fishing in Sheepshead Bay so many years ago.

I lost them for awhile- 25 years to be exact. Don't know why, that happens in so many families. People drift in and out of one anothers' lives. Sometimes there is a perceived slight or an argument. But that's not the case here.

They were at my wedding in 1986. He was wearing his Captain Kangaroo jacket and she wore a striped blouse with a white skirt. But shortly after that we disappeared from one anothers radar.

And then, just as suddenly,25years had passed and we were in touch again and all those years just melted away. Bobby is still the laid back person he was then and Gloria can still make me laugh just by saying hello.

So here's to the Fork and the Spoon! Thanks for all the laughter and the photos and the stories that you have passed on to me through the years.

And I think I just realized why they are so special to me- they aren't afraid to be themselves. That's the secret! They aren't afraid to be The Fork and The Spoon.

Halloween- Night of Magic

Halloween- a celebration based on chocolate! What better to unite us in these troubled times? We had quite a turnout for about 2 hours. The usual assortment of X-Men and Super-heros, along with a sprinkling of princesses and fairies. It's a great holiday to meet your neighbors, you know the ones you have nod and wave relationships with. Suddenly they are at your door and you confront one another in a face to face, verbal human transaction. And it's cultural,too.

We have some Indian families here in our community. They have had their homes decorated for about a week or so in celebration of Diwali, which is their Festival of Lights (kind of like Chanukah and Purim rolled into one!) and commemorates the death of the Evil King who kidnapped Prince Rama's wife. He returned after 14 years in exile to reclaim her love. It is also the beginning of their Lunar New Year and the tradition is to share sweets with your neighbors.

So we are all alike. I keep mulling it all over and always come up with the same answer. We are all alike- we all want some free candy and a smile from our neighbors. We all want to see the magic that we once felt, reflected in the eyes of the children at our doors. And we want them to pass that along to their children.