Richard V. Rupp

October 31, 2020

Halloween was always a fun time for me as a kid. I can remember "trick or treating" on and around Huntley Drive in West Hollywood and getting tons of candy. Two costumes that come to mind are being a cowboy with two cap six shooters in holsters. The other costume I remember was a Zorro type black Spanish costume with mask and sword.

 

Every Halloween it was a family project to carve a pumpkin that would sit on the front porch with a candle in it to greet "trick or treaters." I still cannot believe how many seeds there are in a pumpkin. What a mess.

 

When I mention West Hollywood, I am thinking of it in the 1950's and 60's when it was a family community made up largely of behind the camera movie industry crew members and their families, like my father. West Hollywood has changed over the years and now the Halloween celebration there includes a massive Halloween bash catering to the LGBTQ community.

 

Unfortunately, Halloween in 2020 is going to be different. One headline I noted was "Is Halloween Cancelled?" Here is the advice given –

 

Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health and UC Davis Children's Hospital, says families should avoid trick-or-treating amid the pandemic. He says even in areas with a low risk of transmission, the door-to-door activity could spur an outbreak. 

 

"I just don't see how it's feasible to do this safely," he says. It's not realistic to think children will be able to maintain social distancing recommendations, as they walk around in groups and are handed treats, he says. And while masks help mitigate spread, they "don't eliminate risk."

 

I feel sorry for kids this year. Hopefully, a vaccine will be found soon.

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  And stay safe!

 

Cheers,

 

Richard V. Rupp, Author