I think Hallowe’en should be in September.

Before you say I’m a crackpot, hear me out.

On Hallowe’en night it’s always cold and usually rainy too (I’ve kept track over the years). That means kids have to put heavy outwear over their costumes so you really can’t see the Batgirls, Ariels, doctors or Ninja Avengers outfits that you spent a fortune for or weeks on to make yourself.

OR your kid refuses to wear outwear and is either cold and irritable or gets a cold and then is irritable. Or you are.

But in September it’s still warm. There are enough pumpkins already harvested that it feels like Hallowe’en already.

Like September 10th or so.

I am past walking door to door with my kids. They’re now doing that with theirs. Back in the day Ed took the kids trick-or-treating. My job was to stay at home making the hot chocolate so they could warm up as soon as they came in the door because they were always cold and irritable. Until they had a sip or two of my Dad’s famous Marshmallow Hot Chocolate and emptied out the trick-or-treat bag to see how much candy they collected.

My Dad’s Special Hot Chocolate

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar

• pinch of salt

• 3 tablespoons boiling water

• 2 cups milk

• 4 marshmallows

• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix the cocoa powder, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Add the boiling water and stir to make a smooth mixture. Stir in the milk and add two of the marshmallows. Bring to a near-boil over moderate heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract. Stir, or place liquid in a blender and process until frothy. Pour into two mugs. Top each with one marshmallow.

Makes 2

Any votes for September?