Sitting outside on this warm October 31 evening, I'm taken back to Halloweens past when the weather was warm and inviting on trick or treat night. Today's high in Ottawa of 22.6ºC was a record. But we've come close to these balmy temperatures in years gone by: 2003 (20.5ºC), 1999 (19.4ºC), 2007 (16.9ºC), 2013 (16.7ºC), 1997 (15.7ºC) and 2008 (15.5ºC). During the warmer years, I would settle myself on the front steps to give out candy and avoid having to run back and forth to the door. And that's what I'm doing this evening.

It hasn't always been this nice on Halloween. We've also had some cold and miserable days. One Halloween, my kids had a Tae Kwon Do class on October 31. They arrived home at about 7:00 PM, late for venturing out to trick or treat and brave given the nasty weather. I begged them to forego trick or treating, promising to buy them whatever candy they wanted the next day. But they insisted on going out. So I bundled up, grabbed an umbrella and accompanied them on their round of the street.

When my children were little, our street seemed to be filled with kids, with elaborate Halloween decorations and a pumpkin at every door. The sound of door bells ringing and children running from house to house filled the air. These days, there are fewer decorations and it's more common for people to leave a bowl of candy on their doorsteps with a note to take one or two. I might have done that this year, but I would have missed out on all the joy of watching children from 2 to 12 (and maybe even a little older) approach, wearing a wide range of costumes—some on a mission, others seemingly unsure of what they were supposed to do.

As I sit here writing, one of my neighbours approaches two older trick-or-treaters and says, "Are you guys trick-or-treating? I don't have any candy, but here are a couple of loonies for each of you." It reminds me of trick-or-treating as a child in the country. At one home, the woman served us warm chocolate brownies that we had to eat on the spot. In another place, the man had forgotten that it was Halloween, and offered each of us a dime in lieu of candy.

As I conclude my post, the visits have slowed considerably. Still, I will linger here a little longer, enjoying the sound of children laughing.