Not About The Halloween Candy

 This here is kind of a re-run, or at least a largely recycled one from Halloween 2009. Sorry for not being original, but we just ran out of time on this end and we don't yet have any D-Decorated Pumpkins or the Wilford Brimley getup ready. So, here's a theme that some others in the DOC have echoed for the Halloween holiday. Whatever dressup you may be doing or whether candy's on tap or not, make sure to be safe and have some fun! Oh, and if you haven't yet found the time, head over to the JDRF Walk Page for the Sparling's Six Until Me team page because they're walking on Oct. 31 in Rhode Island! Anyhow, Happy Halloween!

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Every Halloween, it always strikes me as amusing how much you can find online discussing the perfect balancing act for Halloween candy-eating and diabetes management.

Personally, I grew up not caring much about the candy component of Halloween. Sure, I liked the candy and wanted some just like all kids. Of course, I was told that I couldn't have much and would have to work it in or only have a few select pieces from my bag. Now, at age 30, I don't recall being traumatized by this or that it was all that big a deal - it may have been then, I just don't know. There was one house in particular down the street that was always better than anyone else, and gave out that one full-sized candy bar rather than the bite-sized versions typically given out. Had to make a stop there. Even with that, I wasn't like Garfield trying to convince my dog Odie to go with me simply so I could get more "candy candy candy!" (Nope. I preferred the lasagna!)

Really, candy doesn't make the holiday special. It's everything else. More importan than the candy, I recall the fun times of the holiday. The costumes. Being with friends. The pre-season pumpkin carving, party-going, hayrides, and haunted houses. That was more exciting and memorable.

I like to think that has continued into my adulthood, particularly now that I've reached my 30s. We don't yet have children to dress up and screen candy for, but many of our friends do and we always enjoy seeing the little munchkins come to our doors dressed up. So, we have to have the candy bowl stocked and ready to go near the doorway.

Halloween is about the horror, but not the diabetes-style... We all know the D-Horror stories associated with management and complications. That's not the type I'm up for when Halloween comes around. No, I'd rather be up for the classic flick types: Garfield's Halloween Adventure, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Night of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead and all the spawn; usually one of the Halloween movies playing throughout the night; and any other horror classics that might be showing. Gremlins could probably be added to the list to, as that's recently been a discussion topic in the Hoskins Household (we decided it could be either Christmas or Halloween).

Then, there's the cat. I'm confident that we once had a costume for her and dressed her up in little devil ears, but they're no where to be found. So, we may have to craft some makeshift costume. Or, we can just go out this weekend and buy her and the dog one - which is probably what we'll end up doing! So, stay tuned for all of those pictures and more from the Hoskins Halloween over at my Flickr page. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

What is everyone else doing? Any cool, diabetes-themed outfits such as what Jacquie has described? Any special D-focused plans? Whatever is on the agenda, candy or not, hope it's a great time!