Halloween Easter Eggs

There's been so much back and forth this year with whether Halloween would be happening.  Will the kids be out? Will the houses be inviting?

How many people would actually participate on Halloween?

I tried not to put a lot of energy into emotionally preparing my kids for Halloween evening. I gave them a heads up the day before and on Halloween, just in case their trick or treating was not as fruitful as they'd hoped for.  I figured worse case no big chocolate bars this year. 

(That wouldn't be a total bust)

The truth was, it was going to be a crap shoot. I really had no idea how the evening would turn out.  I simply trusted my gut and moved forward.  

I promised them one specific neighborhood that they love.  A gated community with warnings of crowd control, I pushed forward with optimism.  

It is only trick or treating, what was really going to happen?  The sheriff asks us to leave since we didn't live there.  If I didn't at least try for my kids, the evening would begin with disappointment. 

We made our way, visited with friends who we hadn't seen in forever and I knew at that point the evening would unfold quite well.    

It was Trick or Treating Heaven for my boys.

What I realized, as we continued with our evening, there are the Halloween doers and then there is everyone else.

Halloween has really become a happy time for many people. The giving and receiving is joyous and carefree.

We needed this.  The people with open homes truly were open, in mind, heart and spirit. You could feel the welcoming energy.  

Many people were still mindful of social distancing and leaving a bowl for kids to pick candy from.  Some did the very clever candy shoot.  No matter how a house participated, you can tell they did so with enthusiasm and it was all for the kids.  The kids who took that chance, they were excited to be out doing something fun.  

We all can agree 2020 has been a difficult year for many and the energy last night was simple.  Halloween would not die on October 31st, 2020. Halloween survived.  

It was different and sureal.  

Many houses were not participating.  Many children still stayed home.  

The consequences were interesting.

In many ways it was more peaceful, looking for those 'Easter Eggs' among an otherwise dark street with the full moon blazing above. 

The overdecorated homes, with the lights on or the candy tables out with the home owner smiling brightly. 

The trick or treaters who were walking were warriors in the night, hunting for their prized Easter Egg homes.  

Halloween was redefined this year.  It painted a picture for the last year we endured.  We must find the good nuggets in the mist of the negativity.  

Those Easter Eggs are sweeter, more appreciated and cherished.  

Finding our 'Easter Eggs' in life are a glorious reminder that we are on the right track doing what we are supposed to be doing.