Published: October 26, 2009 12:01 am      

It's time for some tricks and treats at Estate

Halloween is closing fast, which means preparations are well under way at the Kellar Estate.

The first step was to purchase the pumpkin which will be decorating the Estate's doorstep. This was accomplished with a trip to the pumpkin patch at Kadee Farm south of Greenville. While there our daughter Jaylynn, 10; son Jason, almost 3; and granddaughter Lauryn, almost 2, went on a hayride, conversed with the animals, swung from ropes, jumped into bales of hay and more.

Then it came time to choose the pumpkin. The young ones all unanimously agreed on the single largest pumpkin in the bunch which, not coincidentally, was also the largest pumpkin we have ever had.

The carving of said pumpkin is still to come, and it may be more traumatic than usual. See, Jason is calling it "My Pumpkin" (which is normal, because Jason places the word "My" before just about any noun in the English language). He says good morning to it and insists on patting it good night before going to sleep.

I also wonder just how large a candle we will need to light the jack-o-lantern, and whether the flames generated will be covered by our insurance and the local fire codes.

The next hurdle will be obtaining the costumes. Lauryn already has hers, Minnie Mouse.

Jason likely will be wanting to dress up as either Spider-Man or Lightning McQueen (if there are any more available at this late date). Jaylynn has been quiet about her choice, although this morning she mentioned she might want to go as an old favorite from years past, namely Bat/Goth Girl.

Vida, my wife and the Hallowed Empress of Halloween Preparation, is not having a Oct. 31 shindig this year, as she is saving her energy, inspiration and dollars for a grand Christmas-themed decoration blowout.

Finally, yours truly has been recruited/volunteered/forced into escorting Jaylynn, Jason and Lauryn to the Halloween on the Square.Friday night. Yes, I will be dragged through the streets of downtown Greenville by three candy-crazed youngsters. Then, once that incredible, memory-making experience is past, I will be in charge of transporting the trio of trick-or-treaters back home, while making sure they don't consume several hundred bags of Snickers, Milky Ways and Butterfingers during the three-minute drive.

Vida, meanwhile, will be barricaded inside the Estate, protecting our home from ghouls, goblins and anyone wanting to damage Jason's giant pet pumpkin on the front porch.

By the end of the evening, there will be three sugar-filled young people, getting ready to go to sleep (probably in their costumes).

Vida and I will tuck Bat/Goth Girl, Spider McQueen and Minnie into bed, kiss them good night, and wait a few minutes until they are snoring happily with visions of Halloween in their heads.Vida and I will hold hands and smile as we gaze upon our little ones. We will then quietly sneak away, sit down together on the couch, find some silly horror/slasher flick on cable ... then raid their candy stashes.

Hey, parents get to have fun on Halloween too ...

Just a thought ...