The early snowfall is my fault. Well, me and La Nia.
I was enjoying the fall and musing about how lovely it has been and no sooner than I submitted my column, the snow began to fall. The ability to control the weather (or to be cursed by the weather) is not limited to myself but shared throughout various community members in this northern part of the province.
Is your snow blower broken? Did you break a snow shovel last winter and haven't replaced it yet? Have you lost your winter gear (or organized and then forgot where you put them)? If yes, then friends, you share the responsibility of the early snowfall.
Thanks.
When my brother and I were growing up in Prince George, I remember trick-or-treating in the snow more often than not.
I am now looking forward to sharing the experience of stuffing my children into snow suits underneath their Halloween costumes. I love how kids look when they are really warm on Halloween, puffy and wobbly in their Hello Kitty costumes and superhero gear.
I love Halloween and carving pumpkins and the chaos and the candy.
I am also curious about how it is that some neighbourhoods in our city remain completely devoid of trick-or- treaters. We have had a grand total of one trick-or-treater in the six years that we've lived at our current address.
I've given up now and we go to my mother's house to reap the rewards of an under-populated, Halloween-enthusiastic neighbourhood that is bereft of trick-or-treaters.
We get all the candy.
My mom gives out full-sized chocolate bars and if there happens to be leftovers, we help ourselves to a healthy percentage of them and stash them in the freezer hidden safely away for the children.
Please remember to keep your dogs and cats inside on Halloween and if they have to use the facilities (i.e. my flower garden), keep your pets on a leash.
So many pets go missing on Halloween, whether they are escaping with the door opening or running away because they are frightened by the fireworks and firecrackers.
My cousin's dog disappeared on Halloween some years ago and we think about poor Oscar every year. We hope he was picked up by a nice family and lived out his life happy.
The absence is felt from missing pets for years afterwards so let's pull together this Halloween and not lose our beloved pets.
Stay safe and Happy Halloween.
