Halloween Tricks and Treats, An Elder Still Coping with COVID-19 Isolation From Family and Friends, All Saints Day
Pic: Public Domain
“Ding Dong,” the doorbell clanged that night as dusk was coming on October 31, 2022 at Sally's house.
“I wonder if I should open the door,” thought Sally, an 88 y/o widowed and wheelchair bound seasoned citizen.
“My kids always warned me to not open the door to strangers even on Halloween,” pondered Sally, who also wondered, “but I'm so lonely … no one ever comes to see me … especially since that COVID-19 isolation mayhem paranoia still persists with the government and some folks!”
“I still haven't even been able to go to church, which I loved being able to attend with a friend who had been able to drive me to the vigil Masses on Saturdays to catch up on things with friends and give my honor to the Lord,” Mary continued in thought flashes.
“How I desperately would love to see my family and grandkids, but they have things going on and don't want to expose me to anything even though we all know now that COVID is simply like the Flu … but I sure wouldn't mind being exposed to some love,” Sally continued as the doorbell rang again; "those masks really don't prevent anything but normal communication," Sally continued to ponder.
“I guess I shouldn't have put on the light outside as my family had told me, but I guess I really wanted to see and talk with someone, as I recall all the Halloween fun I had as a kid, with my children and grandchildren trick or treating in the past,” Sally kept pondering as she motioned her wheelchair closer to the front door to look through the peep hole.
As Sally approached the door, she could hear kids yelling out, “Trick or Treat, is someone home?”
Sally had even secretly gotten a best friend recently to get some Halloween Candy for her to be ready for this Waning Crescent Halloween, unbeknownst to her kids, so she started to reach for them hidden behind a dining room curtain as she got closer to the front door.
After another moment of hesitation, Sally was able to reach the switch for the outdoor lights, so she flicked it a few times to get the attention of the would be trick or treaters, whom she had just heard saying, “Okay, were gonna try one more time,” after the door bell had rung a third time.
Well, Sally was all gung ho now, as she proceeded to pull a spooky monster mask - the kind she loved to wear as a kid - from behind the wheelchair to put on her head as she yelled out by the door before opening it, “I'm home, hold on, I'm opening the door for you, but you better beware of my scare!”
Based on some of her family's still unreliable insistence and paranoia, Sally's mask included a COVID-19 safety inside portion that covered the nose and mouth areas.
As the door was being opened by Sally, she heard screams from kids outside whom were very excited and sounded really scared from her warning!
So when the door became slightly ajar, Sally was all excited just to be able to start to see from the porch light some shadowy-like figures of costumed kids and adults all clamoring to help her open the door, and she could feel the pull from them on the door handle.
At the moment, Sally started to have a sudden feeling of fear that it may have not been wise to open the door to strangers whom may be impersonating themselves to take advantage of her.
But that fleeting moment passed in a flash, as the door flung wide open and Sally was startled at what she saw!
Her daughters, sons, granddaughters, grandsons and other relatives were at her front door all dressed up safely with costumes and masks and shouting out, “Trick or Treat, You are so Sweet,” followed by “Mom!,” “Maw Maw!” “Auntie!” and other terms of endearment!
While “Air Hugs” and elbowing's were going on for a long while, everyone came in for a short social distancing gathering, including enjoying some of Sally's favorite Ambrosia Strawberry Cake - iced and decorated this time in Halloween décor to her delight!
Sally was so enthralled and became tearful when she noticed that even Fr. Paul Yi, her St. George Pastor, had come to join in this celebration with her family.
And what was very special for Sally was that her family took her the next day to a Mass at the beautiful and still almost-like new exquisite St. George Catholic Church on All Saints Day, as that was a family tradition.
What really brought so much joy to Sally that day was to be able to pay her respects to her late husband, whom was buried nearby at the St. George Cemetery.
Happy Halloween and All Saints Day!
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas.yahoo.com,
October 21, 2022.
Certainly a very happy story for that isolated and lonely senior citizen. She was ready to greet strangers and was surprised by her family and pastor. Very nice!
Tasked by his Goddess to find, relocate, and then quicken, the last three Heart Tree gem-seeds, Vanx the bard, and his motley crew of adventurers, set out to do just that.
Tasked by his Goddess to find, relocate, and then quicken, the last three Heart Tree gem-seeds, Vanx the bard, and his motley crew of adventurers, set out to do just that.
Pic: Public Domain
