One of my favorite aspects of Halloween is waiting for the last family that I know will come trick or treating: the Thompsons.

The Thompson kids attended the same school as my two kids. There are thirteen Thompsons and their mom and dad are two of the most patient and wonderful people that I've ever met. Without exception all of the Thompsons are nice, smart, polite children and just a pleasure to spend time with.

I used to direct the annual musical at the kids school and the casts were full of Thompsons...a very talented family and their grand dad is Dave Green who's one of the most famous piano bar guys in Chicago and who, by coincidence, knows my mom from the days when she worked as the desk clerk at the Bismarck Hotel and he was playing in the cocktail lounge...small world.

A couple of the girls were our babysitters when our kids were small and now they're grown, married and bringing their own children with trick or treating...and these kids are adorable. It's sort of become a ritual for both families for the Thompsons to come over at about eight o'clock and be our last group of trick or treaters. I make up special trick or treat bags just for them...hey...special treatment? Fer sure.

Anyway, it sure doesn't seem like this much time has gone by, but it has, and seeing the Thompsons every Halloween is one of the nicest parts of the holiday.

Best

AA

ps: ...and if I'm lucky, my wife finds something very cute and sexy in the way of a costume and wears it for Halloween. Hey...I'm human...