I haven't had more than 20 kids show up - in total - over the 20+ years I've lived here, so I always buy up gobs of candies I like, just in case. If no one shows up, I at least have stuff I like. If they do, I get listed as the best place in town to visit, because I only buy good candy. I'm still not sure why I don't get any little goblins on my porch, though. Is it the claymores on the fence? Or the mines I've buried in the yard to keep the Jehovah's witness folks away?
Most people here are running so scared that they won't let their kids out for Halloween. They drive them to the rich neighborhoods and walk with them for the ritual, meaningless exercise of holding out a bag and having some stranger drop a bit of candy into it. I'm handing out Fudgesickles this year; that should get the little monsters home early.
I'll be carrying my P938, as always, and hoping that, if any little goblins come to my door, they won't be malicious and armed. I've never had a reason to worry about problems this night, and I know of no reason that this year might be different. It saddens me greatly, though, that parents no longer feel comfortable sending their little ones out for a walk around the block to shout "Trick or Treat!" in the hope of being rewarded with a bit of candy.
In my childhood, Halloween was a delight, as we made our own costumes from whatever material we could find and afford. We walked for miles, from neighborhood to neighborhood, in search of every bite of candy we could grab. My Grandpa walked with us, just to ensure that we didn't get into any mischief without inviting him to join us. Grandpa carried a shotglass, and yelled "Trick or Treat" as loudly as the rest. He was well rewarded for his efforts, and quite often, we kids carried Grandpa home. All was well with the world...