And a cool spooky Halloween to you!

Tom and I have lived here since 2006, but it being a country road and all, we have never had anyone come by for trick-or-treats. We always have candy on hand, but no takers. Fortunately no trickers, either.

Until this year.

Our neighbors down the road finally have a child old enough to go out panhandling for sugar, so tonight a little ninja appeared at the door with the traditional cry: Trick or treat! His mother hovered and shivered in the background.

We let him help himself to the mini-Snickers -- and he even took one of the sugar-free candies, unknowingly I suspect -- and thanked him for being the first Halloween visitor we had ever had. His little sister, apparently, had become cranky being lugged around and then having to sit in the car while her big brother got to go ring doorbells. So she had been dropped off at home before he came to see us.

Maybe next year.

Meanwhile, stay cool, spooks!