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Oct 30, 2003 Ahh that time of year where the crisp sting is in the air. A time where the crunch of leaves under footsteps is an invitation to jump in the nearest pile of raked ready to bag leaves. The smell of fresh cut wood burning in a stove or fireplace. How wonderful the thoughts of the years end Holidays. Just think from September to December, Life abounds with family time fun. Halloween is the first real fall holiday. It is probably the best holiday, as on this holiday we acquire " loot". Loot is one of those things, unlike presents that the getting of it is as much fun as the enjoyment of it afterwards. Loot is the general term for " stuff" the items that are so graciously given or doled out from door to door. Some houses give great loot, others, like the weird vegetarians down the street like to give away bean sprouts or mung beans, that’s not so good loot. Good loot is stuff that can be traded for better loot, but what is technically good loot? Is there bad loot? Is there lame loot? Yes my little ghouls there are different levels of loot. Let us begin with Good loot (sometimes called candy). This actually depends on the individual person's idea of what is good to them. But there are some universal ideas on it. For starters Mini Snickers, Mini Musketeers, Mini M&M serving bags and any mini candy bars are good. They have a trade value one for one, usually. Good n Plenty, bottle caps, Red Hots', Hot Tamales (a great trick on a person you don't like, they look like cherry candy) Dum Dums (popcorn flavor is not tradable) and Jolly Ranchers, Bazooka bubble gum, full packs of any Wrigley's gum, and Tootsie Rolls (any flavor), Root Beer barrels are all great loot. They can be hoarded and traded for almost half a school year. Now you have to realize that there is some non- candy good loot. But many kids just don’t understand the value of such good stuff. So non- candy good loot becomes dumb loot or not so great or otherwise known as lame loot. Pokemon, Monster, Yugi-Oh, Baseball cards etc are all examples good non candy loot. Not great loot, but good loot. Parents who dole these out are often praised as giving awesome loot. But this can turn to lame loot quickly. A Yugi-oh character getting a Pokemon may feel betrayed. So watch your characters that come knocking. Open Bowl treats. This is often rare. But many times a person will come to the door with a bowl filled with loose candy, and you can reach in and grab what you want. This is awesome or great loot. McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King gift certificates. Occasionally an open door or house party will offer these as thank you gifts. Though often rare they do occasionally happen. This is great loot. This is trade value only you can determine Examples of lame loot are: Pencils. Pencils are actually wonderful. They last almost an entire school year! That means you can have Halloween reminders long into spring break. They do not cause tooth decay and do not have to be X- rayed. This is one reason why it is considered lame. There are many cool pencils that are good for giving out and many parents love them. Another good reason to call them lame. Anything parents themselves may like could be considered lame. Granted pencils cost a bit more than candy, but then again its one of the easiest to trade candy for since so many kids don’t like pencils.. So save the candy and trade for pencils. Trade value is two pencils for one mini candy bar, or two Dum Dums. Pennies Now we have become a society that has forgotten that pennies add up. Pennies weigh down your bag and often become lost when the bag is dumped. It is always a good idea to remember that 100 pennies still become a dollar. You can trade pennies for candy you don’t want. Remember with those pennies you can get a few things later on in the year or trade for good loot. Stickers' Stickers' are lame loot to some. Mommies like stickers, So bring them home. Often you can connive from mommy a penny or two for each sticker. Mommies use stickers for crafts projects and memory albums. Unless the sticker is totally awesome or cool enough for you to trade for good loot or keep, give them to the crafter of the family. Trade value is sticker sheet for gum. Book Marks. Book Marks are great, especially the ones that have monsters, holograms or Yugi-Oh on them. These usually trade for gum or lollipops. Or other good loot. Apples, fruits or nuts. Generally these are considered thoughtful or suspicious. Apples have had a bad wrap in recent years and that was one reason for the X-raying of the candy, I mean loot. People are sadistic creatures and razor blades and other items are still found placed inside of them. So treat any fruit with extreme caution. If you are lucky enough to get fruit from a safe place, consider Candy Coated, Caramel or Chocolate dipped apples Good loot. Popcorn balls with hard candy in them, Good loot. Adult trick or treaters' are great. They are often parents that are still kids themselves. For these few brave souls, I offer to you the reader a few things for parents treats. Tea bags, two aspirin (Tylenol) and a bunion pad in a little Halloween sack. These little things are often accepted and appreciated. Tea for unwinding while trading goods, two aspirin (Tylenol) for the headache and of the walk and the noise. An a bunion pad or foot soak. This is good loot. This does not trade for candy, though a small candy bar or indulgence in the adult pack is often a great welcome gift to have with the cup of tea. On Halloween night providing coffee or tea and disposable cups for them is a small offering that is " good loot" level and very welcome. Acquiring more loot… Children though have become masters that most kids our age would never think of (or at the very least admit to) And a few years ago I was reminded of the empty bag routine. Some ghoulies and goblins and few other creatures that resemble would knock on the door with an empty bag and proclaim " Trick or Treat" and open their often empty sack. Pillow cases are becoming the rage, though they are of the " fashionable" Scooby or Yugi or other character base and you would give.. Then, as if by some mad scientist and chemical nightmare they would change and come by with yet another empty bag... Was this double looting? Who cares you're having fun. Any one who is comfortable with them selves to get gussied up in their finest gruesome costume, is worthy of a " treat" when they come knocking at the door. Popcorn balls? Candy apples? Gummie Spiders in a cotton candy web? No. Silly String, a nice touch. Though you may be on the up and up, fool them by answering the door and shouting "Trick " as you open the door while spraying their costumes.. Then give really good loot! Your participation is always welcome and often more kids come to your place to be stringed. You can make any Halloween extra special by these few " good loot category" items. Photos… charge a dollar a photo for pictures to be taken at your house via Polaroid camera. You can catch the kids in action…. And they love the unique remembrance gift. And often parents will see what their kids are up to, or maybe even their spouses! An open chili pot. Great loot category. Many times kids get hungry and parents become short on temperament. Mix up a huge pot of chili or sloppy Joe meat, even chunky soup and offer a cup with spoon and a few chips (or chunk of bread) for pennies (or candy trade if your are so inclined). Not only will you be a great hit, by giving out Great Loot, but also a healthy pit stop for the hungry ghouls. And respite for the adults. So as you can see loot has many levels and types. Remember trade accordingly, get what you like and you share your loot with everyone! Happy Looting everyone! ------------ Email Julia Sherman Talley: jimmysdevoted2@bellsouth.net Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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