Happy Halloween.. and it was more or less. I woke up wondering/worrying how this day was going to go. As I’ve said over hte last few days, Hallowen was one of Sam’s most favorite holdiays. How could it happen without him ? Well…. it did.. and I missed him like crazy.. as I do every day.. *and* I was able to enjoy the day with Gabe, Diane and our wonderful community. That’s life these days.. remembering, integrating, moving forward….
The first sign I got that the day was really Halloween was at the security gate at work.. Seems everyone was in the spirit !
The day passed pretty quickly. I had a very interesting lunch meeting withthe folks form the Green Mountain Childrens’ Museum project. GMCM is planning a hands on fun museum for kids 0-8 in the old Moran building down by the waterfront. I’m goign to help out with the invention theme.
I also had a good meeting with my freind Ann at Champlain College on ‘Serious Games’ : the use of video gaming technology for learning and public good. It was my first official meeting of my new assignment at work. It felt good to begin digging in.
The rest of the day passed quickly. I managed to get home early in time to get out trick or trating with Gabe before dark.. Just before we left, our firend Adam came by the house… He had soem new ink done.. a perfect Halloween tribute !
We were readdy to roll about 5 PM…
Gabe and Jack took off for Richmond with Adam while we got the house ready for the 2-3 trick or treaters we typically get..
Diane and I drove down to Richmond and walked back down to Jack’s .. The street was already hoping with Halloweeners.
We met up with the newest trick or treater.. Baby Indira born last Saturday !. Congratulations Ben , Ezra and Rachel ! Welcome Indira !
The kids were getting readdy at Jacks.. this has been our tradiion for the past several years.. normally Sam would already be off with his friends .. and we’d meet up later This year.. it was the trhee of us.. I was thinkign of our earliest trick or treating with Max in Pittsburgh.. (Max what did you do tonight ? )
I had a bit of an equipment malfunction withthe lights I was wearing. I ran up to Marshall and Gretchen’s to borrow their soldering island.. I was somewhat successful in my fix.. I then ran back down and met up with Gabe, Jack , Austin , Diane, Jack, Gay, Jean and David. The streets were jumping at that point.
Pleasant Street is always Halloween Central. I remember every year standing on that street and thinking how lucky I felt to live in Richmond Vermont. I thought that even more tonight.
Mr. Rainey is always there adding a bit of Scottish background music.
We ran into Michael with his new ‘Mr T’ hair… now THAT’S a costume !
Martha wante da picture.. so here it is !
Todd serves up hot or cold cider
Ad Gretchen serves up doughnuts to go with them.. That’s a Richmond tradition.
It also wouldn’t be Halloween without a sto in Bridge Street Cafe to see Marvin and family.. and get a quick ‘soda’ . We ran into Chris while there..
Kelly-aka-Frieda-Kalo was just outside.. (not yet in unibrow)
We eventually worked our way up to Southview. We dropped off the kids then Diane and I went to Susan W’s house to wait for them. They have a nice phot montage of Sam there.. We sat and talked about Sam, Sumner, life and everything else. She’s so easy to talk to .
Eventually Gabe and his buddies got to the Susan’s and we trundled thme down the hill to Jacks. On the way home we drove by Tower’s in Huntington to get a look at the annual pumpkin display.. another tradition..
We got hoem around 9. I got a few pictures of Gabe’s costume.. Standing and jumping.. He was pretty flashy !
I wnet out to blow out the pumpikins.. Looks lke we’d had a hnadfull of trick or treaters come by.. there was plenty of candy left.
This pumpkin just spoke to me … part of me feels just like he does right now..
Inside, Gabe was counting his loot..
Here are my favorites.. yum !
Gabe told me that he had 272 pieces of candy ! That’s quite a haul !
Things wound down quickly from then on.. I fell asleep on the couch. Gabe and Diane went up to bed… I woke up and remembered I hadn’t blogged. What to say abotut a day like this.. I didn’t feel like I thought I feel.. it’s rarely the things you expect that are hard… Sam.. I felt you with me so much today… It made me happy … As I lay down to blog, I found that Diane had forwarded a picture to me from Rand and Julie. It’s of Sam and his friends at their house one year ago tonight getting ready to go out trick or treating. So much can change so quickly.. Look at these beutiful kids ! I love you guys.. I love you Sam !
-dad
