As I’ve said in prior posts, I’ve never been a fan of Halloween. The biggest reason is I didn’t like being frightened, and much of Halloween frightened me. Some would say I was, and still am, a Halloweeny. Guilty as charged.
In spite of my fear, I participated. I like the fun part, just not the scary. During my tenure as an elementary school principal, I led fifteen Halloween parades around the school. The parade reduced the amount of “party time”. The first year I donned a high school football uniform and celebrated the day as an Addison Panther football star. Later, I became a doctor or a dentist. A white lab coat was all I needed. I was one of the first costume minimalists.
My children and grandchildren enjoy the day, so I haven’t moved to have it canceled from the list of family traditions. One thing I did enjoy during the fall was the annual Pumpkin Runs that area groups organized as part of the fall celebration. Our elementary school held several as one method to encourage kids to exercise.
Most runs are 5k or 3.1 miles. The ones we held at Addison Elementary were graduated runs. The kindergarten students might run three hundred yards, first graders a hundred yards more, and so on. We ran “in heats” with each grade having a designated time. At the end of the run we had hot chocolate and Rice Krispie treats for everyone. While the run and its obstacles were set up by our physical education teacher, volunteer parents manned the various stations throughout the run.
For a year, or two, David, Elizabeth and Michael ran in the Feelin’ Good Pumpkin Run sponsored by Ella Sharp Park in Jackson. If I told you how far they ran, I’d be lying. I don’t recall. The truth of the matter is Ruth took the kids and I stayed home to rake leaves. It was a win-win all the way around. They had fun, and I actually raked the leaves and disposed of them. If they were nearby, we’d be raking and jumping in the assembled piles and starting over and over again.
As much as I didn’t like having to rake, and re-rake, my time with the kids back then remains a memory I’ll never forget and one I’m happy to share.
