by Elmo Adams

Created on: October 29, 2008

Spooky Spooky October 28, 2008

This time of year an atypical amount of squash appears in so many places. Along with spider webs, skeletons, sheets recycled into limp ghosts, and those very ugly air filled things that people put on there lawns, these squash, carved or not, signal that Halloween is near.

I don't know if there is a Halloween "season" and if there is I don't know that October 28 holds a special place or has a unique name for its part of the season. But this year, attention must be called to the date, at least in the part of Florida where I live. It was a day full of strange events, and I may be aware of but a few.

To begin, the low temperature was 47, within 4 degrees of a record set in 1957. I expect no sympathy from you who live in the "real" United States, but I turned on the heat for a short while. I wore long pants and a sports coat which I had not done in seven months. We are talking Florida. It is supposed to be 75.

Next spooky observation. On the way to the Doctor's office, I see that gas at the corner is $2.29. Note, that is a "2" not a "3" and even if it was a "3" that would seem cheap. Consider that about four weeks ago, 300 miles north of here in Georgia, folks were lining up to wait for gas, and might be turned away if the retailer ran out. Now, it is $2.29. How odd is that?

Next, perhaps the most spooky of all. I arrive at the Doctor's office. Bear in mind this is a "new" doctor, a specialist, one I have not visited before. Nobody knows me even enough to provide a perfunctory nod or wave. I arrive a few minutes early as my built in ten "get lost" minutes were not needed. I sign a couple of papers, have a seat, glance at HGTV on the big screen TV, and then my name is called. I don't know if you appreciate the gravity of what I am telling you. I was escorted into the "back area" FIVE MINUTES BEFORE my appointment time. I have lived more than six decades and this has never happened before. To complete the strange goings on here, I am only in the "alone place" a moment or two. The Doctor shows up, ask questions, takes a look, writes some notes, and bids me adieu. Remarkable, and strange, very, very strange.

On the ride back I see gas is now $2.27. What!

I arrive home. The temperature has gone up a bit. Actually it is a beautiful day.

Sit down and view my bats. Bats are my favorite Halloween decoration, and it is hard to get a good bat these days.

Flip on the TV.

Gold is at 743.

Stock market has risen 889 points - the second highest rise in the last 69 years.
Is this not the Spookiest, the strangest of days? Is this the October surprise? Or a foreshadowing of it?

I don't know, but I am sleeping with one eye open to the sky looking for that asteroid that might have slipped by NASA. I will also alternatively be employing that eye to see that the card table in the den keeps all four legs on the floor.

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