our treat

Our town has a tradition of trick-or-treating on Main Street Halloween afternoon from 3 to 5.
Businesses dispense treats and for a couple of hours families delight in slowly moving up one side of Main and down the other.

My amazing son-in-law, Matthias, has a shop in our downtown called Machelp. Since his opening nearly a year ago, the response to his services and to Matthias himself has been huge. Jerome and I volunteered to see to the trick or treaters so he wouldn't have to stop working.

Besides, Jerome has always loved seeing the kids in costume, and living out in farm country we don't get anyone at our door on Halloween. The past few years we've spent Halloween at Anne and Matthias' house in town so we could be part of the festivities.
Being new to this downtown event we had to estimate the numbers. We knew if the weather was pleasant there would be many. We estimated 5 to 6 hundred. We weren't far wrong.
The costumes were marvelous. Whole families were dressed and the handmade costumes incredible. I so enjoyed the little ones. One little girl made my day. Down the street from Machelp is an ice cream shop which was giving out ice cream bars. This tiny tot came to me with her ice cream in one hand and her jack o lantern for candy in the other. In the sweetest little voice she chirped "Trick or Treat!" Seeing the ice cream in her hand I said, "I know where you've been." And without skipping a beat she exclaimed "In Viroqua!" (And the name of our town is not easy to say!)
Seeing all of these wonderful families and kids was such a joy. And it helped to bring forward the memories of our own kids' many Halloween years.
I've been thinking about writing a blog post about how the young families I've gotten to know here bring me such hope. Here are links to two young women who have businesses in our town, are raising their children in ways I so admire, and who represent strength, respect, and creativity.
Rachel Wolf  and  Kathryn Ashley-Wright.
Viroqua is a magical place. And not just on Halloween.

oh, and that photo above? Matthias 2002! Couldn't find any other photo of him in what looked remotely like a costume in my iPhoto collection. love you, son-in-law!