What happened to Halloween?

I called my house on Halloween night only to be informed that, in total, four children had come trick-or-treating to our door. Now sure, our street is dimly lit, and most of the neighbors don't give out candy, but we always had more kids than that begging for candy at our house on Halloweens past.

Four kids?? My friends and I, on our own, used to put that number to shame. And were just a few of the countless children -- and later immature teenagers -- out roaming the streets, doing our best, through hard-work and plenty of subterfuge, such as the "pull-up-your-sleave-&-stick-your-arm-back-towards-the-candy-bowl for a second piece" manuever, to gain as many individual pieces of candy as was humanly possible over the course of a few adrenalin-charged hours. Then it was off to home for the late-night, sugar-fueled trading session, wherein I would exchange the reviled Mounds and other unedible items (e.g., raisins) for such favorites as anything cherry flavored.

It was also at this juncture that I openly envied those other kids who had mastered the art of brazenly dipping their hand directly into the candy bowl as the adult was holding it, and, after securing an overflowing handful of Runts or M&Ms, running off like the wind to the next house. My sense of propriety precluded such an act, but allowed for the admiration, and commendation, of those who were willing to commit it. For candy, these kids were willing to risk everything; in a tight-knit neighborhood, word could easily get back to your parents of your illicit behavior.

Where were all the kids this year, anyway? Had they all been mini-vanned away to some mall, where, because of the bright lights and security, their over-protective parents could be assured that no harm would befall them? Will my generation be one of the last to have the unadulterated pleasure of the traditional trick-or-treat experience in our own neighborhoods?

Here, the streets were overrun with Halloween celebrators. But no kids. All of these people were too old to be trick-or-treating. But at least they were out, in costume, pumping the holiday full of life. I say this even despite the fact that, because of the massive Halloween parade and my stellar sense of direction, I managed to become stuck on the wrong side of 6th avenue (across which ye shall not cross when the parade is in effect). After some time spent walking in what I'm convinced were circles, I had to travel south, along 6th ave, from the 8th st subway stop to make my way around the parade so I could get home. This entailed traveling through throngs of intoxicated, costume-wearing NYCers to the starting point of the parade, which was at about 3rd.

This was no easy task, let me tell you -- it required almost an hour of people-dodging and lots of concentration. Though the going was tough, i'll take a mob scene over desolate streets when it comes to Halloween any year. Bring back the kids!