You're Doing it Wrong, Minot

I thought I knew how Halloween was done, but really I had no idea.

I thought trailer parks were the best place for candy. When I was a kid, we always hit at least two trailer parks because the po' folk give the BEST candy. If you wanted Bit 'o Honey or Jolly Ranchers, you went to the neighborhoods with the big houses. If you wanted Reese's cup, Snikers, and gum, you strolled down the streets lined with single-wide mobile homes.

I thought you had to knock on the door if you wanted the homeowner to acknowledge your existence. Before you go knocking, though, you better make sure the porch light is on. No porch light, no candy. Period.

I thought trick-or-treating was for kids. There were those questionable teen years when you're probably too old for trick-or-treating and had to balance the desire to be cool with the lure of candy. It was hard to claim to be cool if you were 13-years old and still going door-to-door. Any older than that? Forget it.

I was so wrong.

When we moved to this neighborhood, I knew we had found our kind of people. When Halloween night rolled around, I nearly wept with joy. As the clock struck 6:00, people poured out of their houses. In a matter of minutes, hundreds of costumed kids appeared out of nowhere, laughing and smiling as they walked house-to-house. The kids didn't have to check porch lights or even walk up the sidewalks, though. Nope. Instead, they walked up to adults in driveways who looked to be set up for a tailgating adventure at Heinz Field. I kid you not, there were costumed adults with tables and chairs, buckets and buckets of candy, and coolers filled with beverages in front of nearly every house.

It wasn't trick-or-treating. It was a BLOCK PARTY.

As the kids collected candy so elaborate and extensive that even *I* was impressed, some adults collected beverages. "Trick-or-beer!" they would exclaim. I had no idea this concept even existed, but the police officer set up at one street corner to keep an eye on the festivities clearly did. As he handed out candy to the kids, he remarked that our neighborhood is the best one around for celebrating a holiday.

I think I need a redo for the past thirty-two Halloweens. I thought I knew how to celebrate the holiday, but clearly I've been doing it all wrong.