Michele applied for the street closure permit, we set up all her scenes ( Miss Havirsham, King Henry VIII and Queen Mary, Frida Kahlo, Headless Horseman, Ursula (Little Mermaid story), Ghouls and Goblins and Ghosts and more around the neighborhood, and linked up with the Ballard Greenways 6th Ave folks to celebrate, and at least make it appear that things were almost normal.

The 6th Ave Ballard Greenways folks set up a safety plan. Families took the east side of the street to head north from NW 45th to Market Street and took the west side to head south. For our block we posted “Please Wear Masks” signs. Three tables were set up in the street with the pumpkins (see above) and assorted bags of candies, while I staffed the candy shoot that Michele had decorated as a ghost. Full size candy bars slid down the 10 foot tube, making scraping sounds as they gained velocity and then shot out into little trick or treaters bags. This was a huge success and may return by popular demand next year. One tow-headed tike in a fireman’s outfit was totally mesmerized demanding a repeat performance. And then returning again and again to explain the wonder of the ghost spewing candy. Later it was reported that this event was all he could talk about on the rest of the Halloween walk.

Our trick or treater record was shattered. We had the most trick or treaters ever. Our high last year was 100..but this year we went through seven boxes of full size candy plus miscellaneous coloring/craft kits. We might have hit somewhere between 120-150. Grateful and courteous to the last. All taking safety precautions with most wearing masks.

During a pandemic, and after 8 months of isolation, it was a special evening marked by joyous cries (Look Mom, Full-Size candy Bars!), and calls of Happy Halloween up and down the street.

At the end of the evening, as if by magic, all the decorations disappeared (down into our basement where they hang around haunting the dark recesses.) And then it was time to have a beer and collapse. Who knows how many steps I climbed to stage and dismantle the event? The saintly spirits of All Hallow’s Eve pushed me through to the end.