Pass Me an Apple

Pass It On is a new, bi-weekly peek inside the heart and mind of Francis Pass…

Listen:

It was not uncommon, back in my day, to trick-or-treat door-to-door on Halloween.

There were only a few streets to speak of in Dongola, and I spent the evening on the southeast side of town canvassing for candy in my costume.

I especially made a point to trick-or-treat at the homes of my customers from my paper route. I believe my customers always threw some extra goodies in my bag. Maybe because they liked me… or maybe because they didn’t want their newspaper showing up in their shrubbery.

In those days, we walked the streets without worry… and, most of the time, without parents. Nobody drove us in a car from house to house. If you didn’t walk, you didn’t go.

Dad would give me the usual instructions (“Francis, you be sure and watch over your brother, okay?”) and off we’d go from porch to porch.

We don’t see as much of that these days. The trend today is to trick-or-treat at retail establishments. For safety, I guess.

We certainly live in a different world than the one I grew up in.

Patricia and I participated in the trunk-or-treat at the Herrin First Baptist Church. We set up on the parking lot over by the soccer fields.

I bought four cases of both Yellow and Red Delicious. The Pass family is known for our apples.

Now, trunk-or-treating is just like trick-or-treating… except instead of door-to-door, the costumed kids walk from car to car to get a treat from the trunk. Or in, my case, an apple from the bed of my truck.

I get a kick out of seeing the kids in their costumes. Star Wars… Avengers… princesses, too. They’re always so creative. One kid was even dressed up as a taco!

They’ve come a long way since the skeletons, ghosts, and goblins of my day.

No matter where you go or what you’re wearin’, Patricia and I want to wish you and your little ones a safe and happy Halloween.

Be well. Stay well. Thanks for readin’…

Francis Pass

P.S. – Remember the year we had snow on Halloween? That would’ve been a good time to dress up like an Eskimo.