Those seemingly interminable dark walks between houses, long before street-lit safety became an issue, were more adrenalizing than the mountains of candy filling the sack. Sadly Halloween, with our good-natured attempts to protect the little ones, from the increasingly dangerous traffic and increasingly sick adults, has become an utter bore.

'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world.

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog.

My fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in ’t. I have supp’d full with horrors.

I don't know that there are real ghosts and goblins, but there are always more trick-or-treaters than neighborhood kids.