So, for the record, the Dawn Jogger was out on her neighborhood circuit well before dawn. One reason is that even though it’s pitch black out, she was wide awake by 5:00 am and decided she might as well get up around 6:00. In the last week she’s been 8, then 9, then 7 (thanks to the end of daylight savings time in UK/Europe) hours ahead, so her body is a bit confused.

But there aren’t a lot of photo ops at the time of the morning, and she knew there would be plenty this evening when Grace and the gang were coming over to go trick or treating on what would turn out to be one of the warmest Halloween nights she remembers in Menlo. (Aside, the only time she was homesick when she went off to UCLA was her first Halloween away. It was around 80 degrees her Freshman year, and she called home  to say “it’s just not right” with a few tears in her eyes.)

To say Grace was excited is a bit of an understatement. She was jumping up and down from the time she arrived until she set out to make the rounds of the neighborhood. That was a bit delayed due to the “bird incident” which she prefers not to think too much about as there have been other “bird incidents” at the house. So, dispassionately, she will explain that when she opened the door to the first group of trick or treaters with Grace at her side to dispense the candy, a bird flew into the house. That it was a bit disconcerting is an understatement, and it took son John awhile to round it up and shoo it outside.

The house once again secured, Grace set out to make the rounds of the neighborhood dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate’s life for her. James was dressed to accompany her but trick or treating coincided with his fussy period of the day, alas.

At the end of the evening, just like days of yore, the accumulated candy was laid out on the rug and inspected. And she got to eat three pieces…