Dear D:

Hello and Happy Halloween! I was going to send you a handwritten letter but there is not enough time left, so it comes to you in electronic form. (And I hope it comes because I lost the first one somewhere in cyberspace, so this is my second try.) Last night we had the first frost and now the sun shines brightly. The last two weeks it has been very much like fall, with storms and lots of rain. I love to watch the leaves gather into rows before the wind like soldiers marching off into battle and then disappear into the yonder. Do you ever wonder where all the leaves go?

The snow is slowly coming down into the foothills. We call them foothills not because they have feet or look like feet, but because they are at the 'feet' of the big mountains behind them. Some snow has been only 300 or so feet above the town. People say we will get lots of snow this year. When I ask them why they think that they tell me all kinds of reasons. We didn't have much snow the last three years, the geese went south early, the cows came home late, my big toe is swollen more than usual, my mother-in-law is coming for Thanksgiving, I can feel it in my bones, etc. I tell them to ask me next March about the snow this winter. What do you think?

Last Tuesday your grandma and I got the boat back from Seattle. The canvas shop made curtains, new covers, and a 'tent' for the rear deck. We also named the boat PEGASUS, after the horse in an old Greek story who had wings and could fly. The factory fixed the little nicks and dings in the hull and now Peg looks truly like new. She is dusty from the shops and we need to give her a good bath and cleaning inside. Then we can put all the gear back on to get her ready for the next trip.

Uncle Carl got in touch with the Coast Guard. He has lots of paperwork to fill out. Next Tuesday they want him in Seattle for tests and interviews. He is also working for the bus company in the evenings.

Grandma Karen has candy ready for the trick-or-treaters. Be sure you don't eat too much candy. It is not good for you. Do have a good time trick-or-treating. It is a fun thing to do. When I was 9 and 10 we went around from door to door singing songs. We had to sing to get little gifts, like apples or nuts or dried plums. Later, when I lived in Westphalia, kids did not go door to door. Instead, we had a parade with lanterns we made ourselves, marching and singing, through town. It was lots of fun. So we hope you enjoy Halloween, too.

Love, grandpa Al, grandma Karen, and uncle Carl