Holloween Mix Ups & Tricky Trick or Treating Messes

I'm pretty sure I HADN'T planned to write again so soon... BUT.. I was on facebook (yeah, I know you're surprised... ) and I read this totally heartbreaking post from a Mom whose neighborhood decided to have Halloween trick or treating tonight (Saturday 10/30) instead of Sunday 10/31, which as we all know, is actually Halloween.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not in favor of changing the day we celebrate Halloween to a Saturday just because it's a Saturday, nor am I particularly against it... but what I AM AGAINST is a neighborhood failing to communicate it's decision on trick or treating in a sufficient and timely manner. This mom took her kids out for dinner (something that seems lovely), came home, and discovered to her and her heartbroken daughter's shock that they HAD MISSED HALLOWEEN. All the candy they purchased, the costumes, all for naught because their neighborhood went tonight and THEY DIDN"T KNOW.

Now I understand that neighborhoods are tricky to run and they are generally filled with people who don't see eye to eye on how tall a shrub should be, much less what day kids should go around begging for snacks..... but shouldn't there be some measure of responsibility within the neighborhood to say "HEY... let's pick a day" for Halloween? And, by the way, let's SHARE THAT NEWS with the rest of the 'hood?

Here on Wisteria Drive (Lane was taken and way too complex for my mid-50s neighborhood), there apparently was a newsletter put out that one of my more responsible neighbors threw my way that clearly denominated when our trick or treat day was for just this reason. So the Things were safe going out for Chinese tonight and then returning home for the Shrek cartoon show tonight. No tears in my house this evening.... if you had some in yours, then for crying out loud, give the kids ALL the candy you bought for the neighbors. And let them ring doorbells tomorrow anyway. Just saying. If you have TOO much candy, let them give it out when they go door to door. Everyone wins that way.