Halloween was the one day of the year that Mike would leave work early to get home to Trick or Treat with the kids. He would pile all the kids and neighbors in our big station wagon with the wood panels on the sides and drive kids around to get more candy, never coming home until 9 pm.

Right now, as I sit home thinking of those days–such fun, such memories–I realize how cheated my grandchildren are. Because they don’t have Mike to drive them around to get the good houses who gave out a lot of candy.

I miss not having him here when they would dump their candy buckets and see who got the most candy.

If Mike was still here we would have reminisced about those days but no one has these memories but me.

Now that Thanksgiving is coming, I have so many fond memories of my brother Johnny. My memories keep him alive in my heart.

Our grandmother from Germany always lived with us. She and our grandfather owned a German restaurant and bakery in New York City for 2 decades. Johnny and I were extremely close to her. Our grandfather tragically died very young before the age of 40. Our Thanksgivings would be a blend of both American and German traditions. Some years we had roasted goose instead of turkey. Most of the time we would have turkey plus Sauerbraten which is German Pot Roast. Additional foods would be German potato pancakes, red cabbage salad, pickled vegetables, cole slaw salad, sauerkraut, spaetzle, bratwurst, and tomato soup. The best part of Thanksgiving would be the deserts, especially Apple Strudel and Black Forest Cake. Johnny and I would “help” our grandmother and mother make these magical Thanksgiving dinners and deserts. Our favorite was making a Black Forest Cake with layers of moist chocolate cake, cherries and whipped cream plus there was brandy. We loved eating the leftover whipped cream and chocolate batter. Johnny was quite talented in cooking and baking so it was not surprising that he became a professional cook and baker in various venues.

I cherish these memories and am always very grateful for them. I am also grateful that I was blessed with the best brother one could have.

Donovan, I know you are watching over all of us who love and miss you. It’s so hard to live without you sometimes (every minute really). This Halloween will be your niece’s first Halloween (and her first Thanksgiving & Christmas). All of these firsts are joyous but so sad to me at the same time. You are an Uncle! Uncle Donovan.

Halloween has always been so special for me- after all you and your sister share birthdays on that day – but it has also become a very hard day for me. You should be here my babyboy. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Keep watching over us. Keep watching over your niece on all her “firsts.”

I love you bunches–Mom xoxo

From Jody’s point of view, Halloween started right after the Fourth of July when the grocery stores started stocking bags of candy. It seems like he bought at least one bag a week, often more. He would hid them in different places throughout our apartment, but I would eventually find them all. I asked him once why he bought so much candy given that we only averaged a dozen trick-or-treaters every Halloween. With his sly, Chesire cat grin, he would chuckle and say: “Don’t worry about it. I’ll eat it all eventually.” And so, he did, finishing the last piece between Christmas and New Year’s.

Today, five and a half years later, I find I have five bags of candy stashed in the kitchen cupboards when I only remember buying two. I guess Jody’s Halloween spirit has been busy multiplying the sweets. I just hope he comes back to eat whatever is left over. Otherwise, I’ll have to eat it myself.

A coalition was formed recently by public health agencies and leaders from several Northeastern states and Western states to make their own guidelines on public health issues, including vaccines. I am proud of my home state of New Jersey for being part of this coalition whose goals are to protect the health and safety of its citizens by using evidence based on science and data. It appears that we cannot rely or trust the present Federal leadership with this task as they tend to undermine health guidelines and actions needed and dismiss the threats.

Many of the cases and deaths during Covid-19 were avoidable, including my brother’s. Approximately four decades of flaws, inefficiencies, lack of preparation and neglect in public health policies and mandates were evident during the pandemic. Sadly and tragically it appears that the present Federal administration has not learned anything from all the Covid-19 tragedies. Our citizens will not be safe in future pandemics. Every state presently needs a coalition to prepare and protect its citizens.