[October 31, 2023] “It’s a bonanza!” yelled my brother Philip as he stared into his haul of goodies. He and I looked forward to Halloween because of the chocolate candy, dressing up in a costume, discovering which of our neighbors were generous and which were cheap, and seeing good friends, yet trying to figure out who was underneath each mask. This day was special, so unique it was something to talk about in excited yet hushed tones among our town’s children, or else our parents might warn us about accepting suspicious gifts of candy. Months before its arrival, our school was decorated to the ceilings of our classrooms with pumpkin paper cutouts, corn stalks, a bale of hay, and a drawing by each of us. And, each young boy dressed in scary clothes, girls as princesses, our teachers in witch garb, and all provided by our teachers’ handy works. It was a time for a photograph, later before the big day, and sent home with specially designed Halloween keepsakes for our families. All these years later, I still have one copy on my computer. Luckily, our school principal gave us a half day off from school on Halloween.
Each year, my costume and my favorite to wear was a skeleton. It was an inexpensive costume of a plastic skull mask and a lightweight black one-piece coverall with a white set of human bones cheaply imprinted on its front. Philip and I were in charge of our little sister Terri. We didn’t mind taking her too much; she usually gave up after 20 minutes because she was tired. Or, maybe she had enough goodies, I don’t know. Then it was balls to the wall, my brother and me running like little leprechauns as we crisscrossed lawns, backyards, alleys, local trails, and minor roads. “Don’t cross the railroad tracks,” Mom would say as she cut us off from half the town and the other side of the town’s nicer homes, where our candy haul would surely expand beyond our limited imaginations. How much candy we gathered determined our measure of a great Halloween. Halloween was satisfactory if two Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store paper bags were packed. Philip and I made out with huge bags full; success was nearly guaranteed. “Trick or Treat,” we said at each home, not knowing what it meant or why. Frankly, we didn’t care either. Halloween had no meaning to us other than candy and funny costumes.
Houses in our neighborhood were close together, making it easier because we knew the families and faster, being so close to one another. The dads handed out the candy at their home. Mothers went out with the little tykes, who seemed scared of the older kids dressed in spooky garb. The little ones were often all huddled together, protection in numbers. We laughed, seeing them all bundled up like that. As little kids, we were not that much different just a few years earlier. Our mother told us to watch carefully for little kids walking alone, especially if they looked scared. This could mean they were possibly lost. It would be our job to find out their name and take them with us until their mom or dad found us. “Make them laugh because they will be less afraid of you boys that way.” My Mom was one smart lady who looked out for everyone. We were proud of her, which gave us an advantage since she had confidence in us and did not follow us. The three of us stuck together.
One Halloween, our small town threw a major “scare” party at the old High School building just before it was torn down. Everyone was invited, kids and adults alike. It was great to see so many there. Of course, my friends and I ran all over the school making spooky sounds, “woooo, woooo,” trying to mimic hoot owls. Then we heard a real owl, and we panicked. Then we saw a black cat and ran frightened in the other direction upstairs. On the top floor, we saw bats and screamed; how embarrassing for us boys as we tried to be brave. Maybe we also tried looking up the skirts of the High School girls. I got slapped a few times, and one of their dates said, “Get lost, you little punk.” We lived across the street from the school, so when it was time to go home, I ran into our house in the dark, hiding in my bedroom. When my brother came in, I jumped out and screamed. He was so scared he couldn’t run. He hopped like a bunny rabbit into our Mom’s arms. I felt a bit bad but laughed anyway. All of us kids were wired on sugar and had a hard time sleeping that night. I still made a few “woooo woooo” sounds. Dad said, “Shut Up, Douglas.” It’s best not to risk it anymore. That was a real Halloween to remember.
I still love Halloween. No, I haven’t been trick or treating in a long time now. I would take your dad and Aunt Audrey out on Halloween night until they grew older. Your dad went as something frightening, always spending a great deal of time preparing a high-quality outfit. His costume would have made mine as a boy look bad. We always had a fun time. Halloween was a good family holiday to enjoy.
—————
Please read my books:
I’m having a great time reading these letters to “my granddaughter.” Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for them.
Indeed, wonderful.
Gen. Satterfield, you’ve done it again with this Halloween letter to your granddaughter. As kids, most of us loved Halloween. Few of us were truly scared. Keep these letters coming. I’m pushing this one out to my friends who have kids.
Thanks, Laughing Monkey and for your long devotion to my blog.
Another fantastic “letter.”
Halloween as a child was excited to go from house to house getting candy. As I gotten older seeing it in different way. The fun now have to tell our kids avoid needless in candy, watching out for strangers, watching out for cars ,evil deeds done o Halloween..
There are safe ways that mall and church have created. Malls have candy stations throughout the store’s, churches have holiday tour which kids dress up as Bible people, get candy from truck of cars that are decorated truck. I use my car several times for this at the church i used to attend.
Good ideas, thanks Eddie.
Another wonderful read from the mind of Gen. Satterfield. Like so many of these articles, my thinking is how to connect these experiences with his success as an Army Officer. That is something that Gen. S. will have to do for us.
He can kick butt but it is up to us to connect the dots.
old warrior , you make me laugh. 😀
Crazy times mean crazy costumes.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Wow, this is a truly wonderful series on “Letters to My Granddaughter.” Each one I read gets better. And I am like myself a little Douglas Satterfield who is trick or treating with his brother and sister in a little town in Louisiana. The words jump out at me and remind me of my childhood too. Like Gen. Satterfield, I grew up “rich” because I had a family (7 of us) and we all helped one another. Money was nice to have and we worked for it but it was the family that really mattered. And that is what we all should strive for….. a happy family.
“Halloween was a good family holiday to enjoy.” – Gen. Satterfield ❤
This is why I read the leadership forum comments as well. Otherwise you and I might actually miss something.
Me too#
☾⋆⁺₊🎃´₊⁺~
Yep. Hi Bryan. Good short and spot-on comment. A good quote is always helpful here. Pulling out what strikes us the most is an appropriate way to “see” the main points of his articles. Gen. Satterfield sure is getting together a wonderful series. I hope he publishes a book with these letters. I’d surely get one.
Another wonderful “Letters to My Granddaughter”. Loving each letter. Wow, already No. 33 today. I hope there are at least 100 more.
Happy Halloween. Be safe children. Mothers and Fathers, make sure that your family is safe. Too many people are evil and our politicians are encouraging evil by allowing them to be among us. Therefore it is up to us to defend our families and communities. Politicians cannot be trusted to protect us. For example, the FBI is fully compromised by the US Democrat Party.
Hi Jelly, Big Big Big Fan of yours. If you could write another article, I would read it. Thank you for what you do by being an American Patriot and exposing the politicization of the FBI and DOJ.
This para is why I read every article from Gen. Satterfield —
“Houses in our neighborhood were close together, making it easier because we knew the families and faster, being so close to one another. The dads handed out the candy at their home. Mothers went out with the little tykes, who seemed scared of the older kids dressed in spooky garb. The little ones were often all huddled together, protection in numbers. We laughed, seeing them all bundled up like that. As little kids, we were not that much different just a few years earlier. Our mother told us to watch carefully for little kids walking alone, especially if they looked scared. This could mean they were possibly lost. It would be our job to find out their name and take them with us until their mom or dad found us. “Make them laugh because they will be less afraid of you boys that way.” My Mom was one smart lady who looked out for everyone. We were proud of her, which gave us an advantage since she had confidence in us and did not follow us. The three of us stuck together.”
I agree. It’s just fun reading his letters.
Nick, you and I will agree on this. As you me, JT, and a few others have been regular contri butors to this blog by Gen. Satterfield for a long long time now. It shows that Gen. S. has a big following of fans. We are the most loyal. Keep these articles coming Gen. S. We love it.
Well said.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨🎃୧ ⋆ ˚｡⋆
Hey, great symbols.
Crazy Day. Pray to the Lord.
Ha Ha, this letter to your granddaughter is GREAT. Happy Halloween!!!!
🎃🎃🎃
Yep! Thank you DocJeff and Gen. Satterfield for a little light-hearted fun on this day. Halloween is one of America’s most fun holiday. For kids, it is just like Gen. S. says, candy candy candy ….. and a bit of fun with costumes.
My favorite holiday other than Christmas.
———
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
HAPPY HALLOWEEN. We can celebrate a little in this time war when Islam has shown its truth which is to destroy the West.
Halloween
Woooo Woooo
Scary Spice⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⡷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣽⣦⣀⡀⠤⠤⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠴⠊⡉⠔⢛⠭⠉⡇⠙⢄⠈⠐⠮⡉⠒⠬⣑⠢⣀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⣠⠞⠁⡴⠋⠀⡰⠊⡀⠀⢸⠀⠀⢣⠀⠀⣦⢄⡀⠈⠣⡈⢧⡀
⠀⡔⠁⢀⠎⠀⠀⡰⢡⢮⣇⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⣿⣦⡙⡄⠀⢷⡀⢃
⠸⠁⠀⡞⠀⠀⢀⣇⡇⣾⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⡸⠘⠛⠛⠛⡉ ⠀⠀⡇⢸
⡆⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⢸⠉⠉⠉⠉⠁⠀⠀⢻⣿⢹⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠ ⠀⠀⠁⢸
⡇⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠫⢾⠀⢀⣤⢞⠋⠀ ⢠⠃⠸
⢡⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠈⢳⡦⣄⣀⣤⣀⣧⣶⣤⣾⣿⣿⣣ ⢫⠀⠀⡏⢠⠆
⠈⢧⡀⠑⡀⠀⠀⠘⠝⠾⠿⣿⣿⡿⠿⡿⠛⠏⠉⠀⡜⢠⠞⣠⠏⠀
⠀⠀⠳⣄⠈⢤⠀⠀⠈⢢⡀⠈⠋⡇⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⡔⡠⣋⡴⠋⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠲⠯⠶⢤⣀⣑⣦⣀⡇⠤⠴⠥⠴⠚⠈⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀
Cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha Ha.
Be sure to get a copy of books by Gen. Satterfield.
“55 Rules for a Good Life”
“Our Longest Year in Iraq”