A Halloween Nighthawk

Trick or Treat

Those magic words. Candy. Crunching through the fallen leaves, the smell of autumn mingling with the smell of that glue to hold werewolf fur to the face.

That year I struck out. My younger brothers, fascinated by the garbage men, went in character, complete with a trash truck wagon. They’d collect treats in tiny trash cans, and hurl the bounty in the back of the “truck”, appearing at each door with an empty container and sweet faces.

It wasn’t intentional, but they cleaned UP. “Oh you poor little kids. Have half the bucket!” The adults would look at me and the traditional bag half full, and give me one piece.

“For you, Mr. Glueface.”

Oh, bitter reason to howl at the moon! Of course, I did get to scare a neighborhood friend, and chase her around, so all’s well that ends well.

Cheers to childhood memories. As this year rolls around, the leaves cover the ground, and I bet the streetlights are burning orange back in the old neighborhood. I miss those days, but still love Halloween.

The little tykes are adorable making their own memories, and now I get to DJ at the grown folks’ parties.

I wonder if that neighbor girl will resurface in an HR department somewhere.

“Josh, you can’t dress like that here.” Now that’s scary.

Quote of the Week

“It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.”–Patrick Henry

Cheer up, Al!

The legend seems to have Halloween fatigue at the promo shoot for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Carol’s Appalachian Word of the Week

Rinch (Rinse): “Be sure and rinch those glasses in hot water.”

Only One To Borrow

The first ballpoint pen is sold in the US today, 1945. Also the 95th anniversary of Black Tuesday (1929).

Song of the Week

“The Monster Mash” (Bobby “Boris” Pickett, 1962)

Imitating Boris Karloff during a Diamonds song gave Pickett the idea for this smash. It’s the hit of the land, still making a million.

Write to Us!

The Nighthawk is a new old-fashioned way to connect, published weekly. You’re invited to write back, or just enjoy reading. Let’s have some fun! It’s a social paper! Send stories, etc to: PO Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588 or Joshurban@protonmail.com

Letters from Josh

(A weekly update from Josh Urban’s adventures on the farm and in the city. #209)

Appearing in the Altavista Journal, etc: Just Do It

Howdy, folks, and welcome back to the show! Election Day is next week. Here’s a story, and a simple message.

Once, I was talking with an beautiful lady who apparently didn’t think the same of me. She seemed annoyed, and wondered why I wrote a book about how bad the COVID lockdown was. I told her, and then asked, in the usual long-winded Josh style (I prefer “colorful”) if she wrote as well.

“No” was the single word reply.

“Well, as Oscar Wilde said, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit.’ You’d be an excellent writer.”

That was the end of that. Maybe it’s because Shakespeare said it. Oops. I stand by the idea of simple, though. Here’s the point of today’s column:

Go Vote.

Catch you on the flip side,

Josh

Send patriotic tales and postcards to P.O. Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588

or on X @RealJoshUrban