What's Next?

FYI..... Halloween is on the 31st....

Halloween has always been one of those holidays that is claimed by all; from the ancient Celts' Samhain to the Romans' Feralia to the modern Catholics' All Saints Day.  Though all have tried the re-naming and re-purposing of this historic celebration, no one, until the Dutch, have tried to switch it to a more convenient day.

This year, October 31st has fallen on a Sunday.

Apparently, Sunday does not work for the Dutch so, they changed it to Saturday... without telling me.  I am not just talking about bar theme nights or house parties, I am talking about the short, costumed candy-beggars running around ringing doorbells with huge expectations of sweets and praise!  Here in The Netherlands, the costumed children did their door-to-door, trick-or-treating thing last night on Saturday, October 30th!

That was unexpected.

Thanks to Liam, who noted this bizarre activity while on his way to one of the above mentioned parties, we were warned to hide inside and turn out the lights, the only truly practical solution:

"Hey Ma.... just to let you know.... I have seen a bunch of gangs of dressed up kids.... weird.... you may want to turn off the lights or something because I'm pretty sure there is no candy in the house."

Thanks, Dude.

So, last night we hid in the darkened livingroom and watched TV to pass the time until the the mislead youth returned home and tonight, true Halloween, we sit in total peace with lit candles in the windows to guide the lost souls on this true night where the boundaries between the living and dead are blurred for a short time.

And, important as well, here is what we found in the local Aussie/Brit store....

The cider is pretty good, the beer has a cool label.

To all of you, Happy Halloween! 

Coming soon... how the Dutch expect Santa Claus (Sinterklaus) three weeks early.

Hugs??? Not Important!??

Funny thing is... I have always been one of those people who has had personal space issues and has really preferred to not be touched.  Still am.  However, I have also always understood the need for human contact; albeit, by my belief, more by others than myself.

I am sure that, during your baby rearing years, you remember the comments from the previous generations; maybe your own parents, that have sounded quite a bit like, "Don't pick him up everytime he cries.  You will spoil him." or "He will be a stronger person if you just let him cry himself to sleep."

Do you really have the right to deny anyone his or her need for human contact any more than his need for air, food, shelter or clothing?

Living in a somewhat free Western society, I will say No.

My "children" are now 16 and 19 years old and, as much as I know that I have never aspired to receive the "Parent of the Year" Award, I am proud that I can say that I never let them cry themselves to sleep nor did I ever deny them that essential human contact.  No matter what the challenge, if a hug was requested, a hug would be rendered and this still holds true to this day.  It's not like I had to give up a limb or something.  The easiest resolve to any turmoil is to melt into the arms of someone who loves you.

If one is to look up the definition of a hug, he will find that, after the obvious physical attributes, the terms that are linked to that action (hug) are words like cherish, affection, delight, comfort....

By that definition, is a hug something that one would ever want to withold or deny someone who they really have a strong affinity towards?

Is that a valuable punishiment?  Are the dishes that important?  Are you too busy?  Are you worthy of such a decision that someone in your life is not deserving of three seconds of your time?

What's the damage?  To both of you?

Fuck the whole, "smell the roses" campaign.  Value the time that you have with those who are important to you.  Tick Tock.