Neither was there silly religious backlash as there is today. We Catholic kids trick’r’treated with the Jewish kids who lived across the street, running from door to door with abandon..and some of the best loot was collected at the Southern Baptist preacher’s house. There were no “alternative” celebrations, and no one lent the holiday any more substance than it deserved. It was just good fun, with occasionally a bit of mischief to give it a thrill.

Billy Joel sang that “the good old days weren’t always good,” but having fun back then was a far less complicated affair..

I was just telling Amy last night as we were Trick-or-Treating about those awesome costumes we made. They were hands down my favorites, and passing down a little of that homemade love down to the kids.

There must be a photo somewhere…I remember it, I think.