Before the day ends let me just share this one story about my Father when he was still with us.
He was very adamant that he never falls asleep when he’s in a vehicle and someone else was driving.

He said, and I quote, “I just never trust anyone else’s way of driving.”
This is actually true. I’ve never seen him asleep while traveling.

Now, back in the Philippines, he and I traveled to Tarlac from Quezon City many times.
That’s about a 2 hour drive back then. Of course, I was the one who drove for the most of it.

One time as we were on our way, he got quiet all of a sudden.
So I glanced at him and what do you know …. Mr. Martell was asleep!
Bobbing his head, eyes all shut.

He never told me he fell asleep, but I was very proud of myself that day.
My old man trusted me.

It’s been 13 years since he left us.

And I still miss him dearly.

I bring you,
Mickey Tyler Mouse!

Tyler as a “Vampire Bat”

You know it’s pretty cool this “trick or treat” gig for kids.
The only time of year they go crazy with candies, chocolates and tooth decay.
Though recently, you don’t see kids dressed up as classic ghosts, ghouls and monsters.
Nope…no more Dracula…Frankenstein…or the Prime Minister.
They all dress up as their favorite Disney character…or a Tele Tubbie..
or some sailor from the moon.
I don’t know….seems like something went wrong somewhere.

But what do I know…I grew up with no Halloween.
There are no walking around in scary costumes asking for candies in the Philippines
(coz that would be every saturday night).
I totally do not know how excited a kid can be this time of year.

Buuuutttt..let me tell you what we do on halloween back home.

All the kids go together singing “Soul” songs.
I am not talking about “Aretha Franklin gut belting Soul tunes”.
I mean… Soul of the dead songs.
One that goes,
“The soul of the dead are coming, they walk the streets, they would enter your homes,
scare the hell out of you, empty your fridge, and use your bathroom.”

No it doesn’t really go that way, but it would have been more fun if it did.

Anyways, as I was saying.
We go from house to house, singing songs of the dead,
and they give us MONEY!!!

Oh yeah!
By the time we circle the whole block,
we have enough money to wipe out the nearest convenience store of their “The Bar Gin and Tonic” drink.

See?
Who needs all those candies and seeing costumed people walk the streets?
by the 3rd bottle …everybody looked funny and scary already.

Oh! To be a kid again.