I took my child trick or treating for the first time this year and even if the candy went right back out the door to trick or treaters who rang our bell later, it was fun and I met neighbors I’d never had talked to before.
But, I have one question. Am I the only one that grits my teeth and doles out a sad, single sweet to the members of groups of 16-year-olds whose only costume is the plastic Target bag in their hands and then grumbles as they walk away? (I get it, they’re Target customers for Halloween!)
I know it could be worse. These kids could be smoking weed and drinking cheap wine under a railroad bridge somewhere. But is candy so expensive that they can’t just pop over to Sentry and get a sack of Nestle minis?
You would have had to threaten my life and show me the weapon to get me to ring someone’s doorbell and ask for candy when I was 16. Is it too much to expect kids today to exhibit similar pride and shame?
Sure, they’re out walking, which may be the first time they dropped the joystick or mouse all week, but I think they oughta walk over to Walgreen’s and buy a Reese’s and stop ringing my doorbell. Even if it is Halloween.
Or, at the very least, put on a costume!!! Then you’ll get two pieces of candy and a happy Halloween.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
