Trick-or-Treat Night 2012 is a Go (So Far)

In two weeks it will be the one year anniversary of the October 29 snowstorm—the Halloween Snowstorm, as it is often called. I am positive that no one has forgotten their harrowing experiences of those few days.

Trick-or-Treat Night was canceled…unless you were fortunate enough to live in a community that scheduled the annual candy quest before Oct. 29. Halloween parties and get-togethers were also canceled. The Masquerade Ball benefitting MS was one of the events canceled in Upper Milford. My costume still hangs in the closet.

But children—and adults—rejoice. With no predictions of snow as of yet, you can dress up this year for Halloween and Trick-or-Treating. And some of you may even be lucky enough to use last year’s costume. 

What's your fondest memory of the Halloween 2011 snowstorm? Tell us in the comments.

Power outages are a common occurrence in Upper Milford Township, but they usually last a few minutes to a few hours, not a few days.  Kerosene lamps, generators and kerosene heaters were in use last year. Of course, when the kerosene ran out, there was no light or heat, because the gas stations were out of power, too.

When word came that the power would be out for a several days, we started calling store after store looking for a generator.  We found a place that had 15 left and the store was only about 20 minutes from the house. Off my husband went. Just as he walked in the door, the 15th one was being carried out! 

In a way, it was nice being without power. We did more things together (like shovel snow!)—something that is not done enough. We talked, laughed and had fun playing games, often reminiscing in between turns.

That night we sat in the house by candlelight, as did many other Upper Milford residents. We listened to loud the cracks as the branches on our maple tree broke one at a time. By morning nearly two-thirds of the tree lay on a pile.

Sitting by the kerosene lamp and candlelight made me wonder how people managed as well as they did before electric lights were invented. Writing was very difficult. I couldn’t work on the baby blanket I was knitting, or the picture I was in the process of embroidering. I think we take a lot for granted.

With our kerosene heater was lit, we were able to heat some soup to eat along with water for coffee and tea. The water we used came from the neighbor’s creek and melted snow. My husband lugged the water up a hill in a pail so we could at least flush the toilets.

Other than the soup, we ate the traditional power outage food. Melting ice cream, candy bars, cookies, chips, pretzels—all the good stuff with no nutritional value. 

I am ready for the goblins, witches, princesses and werewolves to ring my doorbell this year. And, if we do get some snow, let it be just a teeny, tiny bit.