Halloween 2020 Cancelled...But The Flame Still Burns

 https://keyt.com/news/ventura-county/2020/09/15/ventura-county-says-no-to-door-to-door-trick-or-treating/

2020 has sure taken its toll on humanity. So maybe reacting to one year of Halloween cancelled is being a bit selfish on my part. But as a major Halloween fan I'm heartbroken. I had held on to hope that out of all the holidays of the year, maybe Halloween would be the one that would be the most adaptable to these times. It has mask wearing. It's out in the open. And candy can be easily wiped down or quarantined. Apparently not so according to health officials. 

I didn't take into account the weather change to that cold atmosphere that helps spread and the mass congregation of people who either may or may not practice mask wearing or social distancing. The outcomes aren't predictable. The flu season and the current situation we're in don't seem to bode well for the fall and winter. Here in Ventura County, the numbers of cases is going down and there's a clear effort to keep those numbers down as the cold chill of fall looms.

We've already adapted to a 'new normal.' Conventions and award shows streamed online. Why not Halloween? Yes, the lack of Trick Or Treating and Halloween Parties mutes the holiday a bit. For for someone like myself who kind of celebrates the holiday year round, doing it this way isn't all that out of the ordinary.

We still have our pick of any horror movie to watch at home. Actually, Trick Or Treaters interrupted my viewings during Halloween (though, to be honest they were happy interruptions). I can not only pull up public domain classics like "Night Of The Living Dead" or "House On Haunted Hill" whenever I feel, but also Halloween specials and vintage Halloween commercials that take me back to the Halloweens of old.

Decorating the house to give it that Halloween spirit is always great, though these days it could lure in folks that may think you're inviting them in. Still, it's worth the effort.

And Halloween treats can be consumed during the day. In fact, there may be more of an emphasis on Halloween foods and drinks this year, combined with holiday viewing and Halloween music to make the the lack of outside activities tolerable.

It seems as if the optimistic view of things is that around Summer 2021 there will be a potential return to normalcy. At least a move in that direction. And with that, Halloween will be up and running and will be embraced by all. O, to see that day in my mind!

But for now...stay safe and keep that Halloween flame in your heart burning...