Beggin' for Trick or Treators...Batman bolts - Scariest childhood moment

Wow...when you have to go and encourage a little Batman to come back just so you can give him some candy, you must be in a place so far out that Aunt Martha must be next door.

We planned on happily handing out Halloween candy this 31 October.  Not much of a big deal I say - it's candy - and if the kids are supervised and under the age of 12 with pretend uniforms of their heros purchased from Wal-Mart (probably my future employer), then it's okay. 

It's NOT okay when a busload of hooligans obviously over the age of 16 in white sheets with two holes punched in them get dumped off from the back of a truck and then the vehicle pulls to the bottom of the block waiting for the 'kids.'  They then come to your door and with a bass voice lower then Tennessee Ernie Ford want me to to believe they really mean it when he says "trick or treat." 

"Yeah, kid," trick or treat to you too.  Here's a partially eaten tootsie roll.  Make sure you have alot of toilet paper handy.

Anyway, I digress.  So we leave the porch light on in hopes of drawing some little princes or princesses (or Batmans) truly making it a night of memories - maybe I'll make them sing a song or something - ha, ha.  Trick or treaters?  Nothing.  We see some kids up the road a piece but unfortunately it looks like our house - which sits a little too far away from other houses - is not worth the walk.  Spoiled kids.  I'd walk a block for a Reese's peanut butter cup. Who wouldn't? 

But next, and wonder of wonders?  About 1930 (7:30 P.M. to you civilians), the doorbell rings and we have a prospect!  Then out jump the dogs immediately running and diving into the front glass door trying to get the little Batman guy, mostly to lick his face.  What does Batman do!  He BAILS!   I never saw an 8 year old run so fast.  Momma's comin' out of the car to catch him before he hits the road.  But Sandy - with a belly full of hope - was not going to let this one get away, he was going to get a treat.  She grabs the candy jar and runs out the door while I restrain the dog formerly known as Savannah - now playing Tasmanian Devil this Halloween.  She catches up with the little guy and assures him that the 'Taz' is contained and would he take at least two handfuls of candy...revenge for all the candy given our kids on past Halloweens.  I also encouraged him to eat all he could on the way home...no sense wasting the night sleeping.

Now, the scariest childhood moment?  Every year - at least once or twice - the Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland would somehow just pop up out of nowhere on the TV.  It's a must watch just as "It's a Wonderful Life" is at Christmas.  Two points are forever etched on my amygdala from my younger years - to include an occasional passing bout of PTSD - the wicked witch of the west doing her bicycle ride outside the flying house during the early hurricane scene and those damned flying monkies going after the fabulous four. 

I have to tell you..the monkies to the right in Baum's 1900 version of the Oz were a lot tamer and less scarier  then those of the 1939 version...

Anyway - here's a picture of the Kircher kids et. al., playing on a swing set.  I'm there in the red shirt.  Ed and Steve are clearly shown including SueAnn.  Karen (Lott) Adams is in the red dress and John A. Kircher in the swing by Ed on the left.  It's an action shot so a little blurred.