Somewhat by intention, we found ourselves eating dinner at a Village restaurant on Sixth Avenue the night of the Halloween Parade. We had studiously avoided the crowds and craziness for four decades but somehow on this 40th anniversary wanted to taste a little of it. We took the train along with other New Yorkers,

ate our dinner and enjoyed the view. After years of not going, we realized it was a totally sweet

and funny experience. Families of all kinds

watched the Julie Taymor-like skeletons, penguins and

flying clocks dancing high above the crowd’s heads so we really could see things after all.

Exhausted but happy we trained home with other revelers.