Tipsy trick-or-treating is the trend?

Do you notice more parents drinking alcohol while taking their children trick-or-treating? Apparently, it’s a thing that I just became aware of.

Let me say that I don’t drink alcohol, simply for lack of interest. It makes me tired and headachey. I used to enjoy a social drink in my single or childless days, but after pregnancy, I stopped drinking entirely and never regained the taste or tolerance.

I was taking Olivia around for trick-or-treating when we bumped into a mom friend. “We rushed out of the house and I forgot the beer!” she moaned.

“Beer? For what?” I asked. 

“To make this bearable! Everyone does it!” she answered, amused at my ignorance. 

“REALLY?” I gasped.

“Yes! Don’t you see everyone with the coolers?” she laughed.

I’ve seen people pulling wagons with coolers. I really thought it was full of juice boxes for the little ones. I have never thought to question the contents.

I found my husband in the fray of the group of friends we were walking with. He was ahead ten paces.

“Claus! Guess what! Did you know people DRINK while they walk around?” I gossiped.

He looked at me as if I’ve been living in a cave, which I guess I kind of have. Which is probably a horrible thing to admit since my job now – and for most of my working life – has been as a news professional. I’m supposed to, you know, be aware of what’s going on?

Face palm. OMG, I am so naieve! 

Diane Ako

Peace of mind By Diane Ako I like to reflect on life. Sometimes it’s philosophically. Sometimes it’s humorously. For all its beauty, life is far too difficult a journey to take alone. You need the support and connection with others to help carry you along the way. Writing brings me that connection– within and without. It clarifies my thoughts and feelings. It helps me reach out to others for advice, wisdom, or feedback. Your thoughts become your actions. Your actions become you. A wise yogi- Patanjali- said, “Speak what is true. Speak what is pleasant.” Let’s speak of things pleasant to one another and seek some peace of mind along the way. ABOUT Diane Ako joined Hawaii: In Real Life in October 2016. She likes being part of a community of local bloggers – people who like writing and sharing, like she does. Ako is an anchor/ reporter at Island News (KITV4 – ABC) in Honolulu. She previously anchored and reported at KHON2 (FOX) and KHNL (NBC), and at stations in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. She freelance writes for NMG Network's magazines. In between news jobs, in 2017, she launched and ran her own p.r. company, Diane Ako PR. From 2010-2014, she headed the public relations department at Halekulani Corporation, which oversees luxury resort Halekulani and boutique hotel Waikiki Parc. She’s been blogging since 2009 – before Hawaii: IRL, she wrote for The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the state’s largest daily newspaper, where her stories garnered a dozen journalism awards and an Emmy nomination. Ako has a BA in Communications from Menlo College and an MA in Political Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa. She volunteers as a board member of the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation, a Shinto shrine maiden at Daijingyu Temple, a citizen-scientist studying shrimp, and a yoga teacher at a senior center.

Diane Ako has 274 posts and counting. See all posts by Diane Ako

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