People here are crazy for Halloween. I started canvassing houses for Obama three weeks ago, and the decorations started to appear even then. I thought it was a little early, but I appreciated having a good conversation starter before launching into the whole "who are you voting for" routine. I also came to realize that you can gather hints about political affiliation based on Halloween decor--houses heavy on the ghouls and skeletons skew Dem, while the more countryish, hay bale and pumpkin-based arrangements signal McCain supporters lurking within. The elaborate construction and sheer hours put into Halloween decorations in this part of the state also reveal the old "I don't have time to volunteer" line to be a lie. If you have time to string up a lifesize vampiress on your roof, you have 1 1/2 hours to knock on doors. But I digress.
It's Halloween night, and other than stuffing myself with mini Butterfingers for dinner since I didn't have time to eat anything else, I'm not doing much to observe the holiday. I'm actually too tired to even be sorry that I'm missing the usual night out in my hastily-thrown together cat costume (thanks Les!!). But in a way, I've been trick or treating since I arrived here, just with stickers, voter lists, and the hope of political support rather than a candy handout. And definitely with a more uncertain reception than all the dressed-up little kids are getting tonight. The sugar high is the same, but Halloween only lasts for a few more hours while the campaign still has four days of sleep deprivation and high stress left to go. A scary thought.
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