Holidays are looming

It means that Thanksgiving isn't far behind and you know what that means.

It means that Christmas is just around the corner and you know what that means.

Well, for the housewife it means Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, cooking, baking, gift wrapping, greeting card sending, decorating, and a multitude of other duties,

I don't know what the man of the house does at Christmastime but the housewife stays in a flurry trying to get those extras done before Santa makes his appearance on Christmas Eve.

I don't even want to think seriously about Christmas yet.

In our lifetime we go through different phases of Christmas. There's the wondrous time of childhood when we lie in bed on Christmas Eve and imagine that Santa Claus will appear at our house after we go to sleep. What a magical time that is when we awake and see all the presents under the tree,. a doll, a wagon, a stocking of goodies..

We can't imagine how Saint Nicholas could be everywhere at once but we know he is.

Then there's the teenage years when we let our parents know exactly what we expect under the tree....a bangle bracelet, a gadget just like all our friends have, a must have piece of clothing.

After marriage, we wonder what gifts our spouse will present to us. Hopefully it isn't a kitchen gadget or something work related. We dream of a diamond ring or pearls, perfume, or something romantic.

In mid years, Christmas becomes more hum drum, more hum bug. It becomes a frantic pace to get things done before Dec. 25. There may be family reunions, Christmas parties, social get-togethers, sandwiched in among a myriad of activity.

By midlife, Christmas is old hat.

In senior years, Christmas becomes more relaxed. It is more focused. There's more time to celebrate what Christmas really means. Christmas carols take on new meaning and church plays and candlelight services celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and peace on earth. Of course, they always have, but sometimes the rush of Christmas and commercialism blurs the Christian aspect of Christmas. We forget that Christmas is much more than getting and giving gifts.

Halloween, too, has changed. And it looms with potential dangers.

Long ago, no one ever dreamed that anyone would distribute poison candy to little trick or treaters. But it has happened. Now regulations are stricter than they once were. There are curfews and more police patrols to see that vandalism doesn't occur.

Of course we all know stories about how, in times past, teenagers overturned outhouses or threw raw eggs at cars, and soaped windows. Some of that still happens, but vandalism is kept to a minimum nowadays.

There are safety tips that parents should follow this Halloween.. Such as, choosing a child's costume made of flame resistant material. And selecting a costume made of bright material that is visible in the dark. It would be wise to add reflective tape to the costume or trick or treat bag.

It might be a good idea for the trick or treater to carry a flashlight or glow stick.

The costume should be short enough that it doesn't cause your child to trip and fall.

Masks should fit securely with large eye holes that will allow the child to see well and not hinder visibility. Knives, swords and other props should be made of a flexible material, so they don't pose a hazard.

Decorations of outside jack-o-lanterns with lighted candles should be far enough out of the way so that costumes won't accidentally catch on fire. That's another reason for flame retardant costumes.

Children should be supervised when trick or treating. They should stop at familiar houses in the neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adult.

Instruct your children to never go inside the home of a stranger or get into their car. They should stick to well lit houses in familiar neighborhoods only. Remember that there is safety in numbers. Older children should trick or treat in groups in well known neighborhoods.

Caution the children to avoid taking shortcuts across backyards or alleys. Stay on sidewalks of well lit streets and watch both ways before crossing streets. Children should be cautioned to follow traffic signals and rules of the road. Motorists, too, should drive slowly and be on the lookout for small trick or treaters.

Instruct your children to bring all candy home before eating it. Parents should Inspect food for tampering and allow the children to eat only commercially wrapped candy.

When I was a child, I always hoped that someone would give me a homemade popcorn ball.

My neighbor, Mrs. Crow, would sometimes distribute popcorn balls on Halloween night. That was a wonderful treat to me. I guess by today's standard, that would no longer be acceptable to distribute wholesale. It was okay a half century ago .And considered safe.

One idea that is gaining support is having community Halloween parties. Children can go to a church party or supervised neighborhood life center gathering and have a lot of fun and games in a safe environment.

Common sense can do a lot to avoid any tragedies from happening this Saturday night.

Happy healthy Halloween!

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