Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 04, 2020

Snatching Victory from Defeat.

Panel 3 “Chocolate Ecstasy.” Panel 4, “Janis The Cat.” Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we diet.

I was lucky enough to grow up when popcorn balls, homemade taffy apples, etc. were given out.

This one brings back fond memories. My Mother always made popcorn Ball for Halloween. People came for them because they knew how great they were. She has been gone 2 years now and Halloween just isnt good anymore without her popcorn balls.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.

Janis’ eyes in the third panel!!

Many women have given me that look but it was accompanied by “Really?”.

Behold the key to Janis!

My mother’s popcorn balls were famous neighborhood-wide. We’d get parents coming to the door for them, too, and even when kids got “too old” for trick-or-treating, they still made a special trip back to get a popcorn ball. Even now, old friends tell me they were one of their favorite Halloween treats!

I love Halloween and seeing the trick or treaters. And I like having a bit of leftover chocolates too! I used to make popcorn balls for my students.

Begging for candy seems a little outdated.

Popcorn balls were one of my favorites back when homemade candy was still allowed on Halloween. Now everyone thinks they might be poisoned.

I love trick-or-treating (both giving candy and taking the kids around). Seeing all the excited kids and their costumes is my favorite part. Unfortunately, the only trick-or-treater we’ve had in years was a bear, and the kids are too old now.

Never seen her as happy as in panel #3.

Janis looks like a cat licking her paw in panel four.

The woman who made homemade popcorn balls in our neighborhood always had a crowd. You’d better get there early before she ran out. (The other popular house was the woman who dressed like a witch and had a cauldron with hot cider in it.)

The best trick r treater deterent. however could lead to trick unless give out chocolate.

My earliest memory of trick or treating was when I was almost 3 (it is a bit sketching trying to remember something 61 years ago). We lived in France and the local kids loved Halloween – I am not sure if they picked it up from the US military base nearby or not. There were two bigger girls that used to play with me (we did not live on base) – probably 7-8 years old but they seemed HUGE to me. They took me around to nearby houses according to my mother (I don’t remember visiting houses or getting candy, though). I remember it was foggy/drizzly and I was in a black crepe witch’s costume. The color ran and I was all streaked with black ink. My mom must have given me a bath because the next image I remember is sitting in my high chair, clean and dry, with a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of french bread and butter that I would dip into the hot chocolate and then eat. It is one of my favorite indulgences to this day. But you HAVE to have just the right kind of bread. :o)

A fellow in my neighborhood used to give out home-made brownies. Cops got him…

Happiness personified.

We afforded homes that gave corn balls, apples, home made cookies and a penny!

Candy apples became verbotten when jerks and psychotics put pins and razor blades in them.

I always give out candy that both I and my “lawn guy” like and I buy a whole big bunch of it. That way there is no problem with left overs. Whatever the little ba…er…darlings don’t collect on Halloween won’t go to waste. (“waist” yes, waste no.)

I still buy popcorn balls after Halloween cheap and yummy.