It was a far cry from my experiences as a kid, but we loved it just the same. Keith and I took all five of the kids, plus two cousins trick-or-treating this weekend in L.A. We were in the area because Keith's sister's family recently moved there from overseas. This was the first holiday we all got together...the two siblings living in the same state again. It was a definite cause for celebration. We were just a few miles, actually, from Beverly Hills, and had a really nice time. Throughout the entire night of trick-or-treating, we saw many of the sights you'd expect to see on a typical Fresno street, and the kids got a great stash of candy, without anything too over the top.

"Anything too over the top." I was pleasantly surprised with all of this "normalcy" for the mere fact that when I was a child growing up in Fresno, my friends and I would always wonder what the more affluent people were giving out during Halloween. We were raised in a neighborhood that was far removed from any glitz and glamor of tinsel town. We had the idea that, in other neighborhoods, some people were actually giving out normal-sized candy bars, or that kids were getting handfuls of candy galore, and that they'd come home with whole pillow cases full of treats.

But I didn't see that in L.A. this weekend, and I wish my adult Fresno self could go back in time and tell my child Fresno self this little revelation: The candy they're giving out in the affluent neighborhoods in L.A. are exactly the same candies they're giving out here in Fresno, whether it be south of Shaw, north of Shaw, or whatever, because God knows I've trick-or-treated in all neighborhoods of this town. The one major difference, of course, was that the neighborhood in L.A. stretched out over a series of hills, and every home we went to was very much custom-made, unlike the endless series of track homes we have here (represent Fresno track home love).

I know in the past people have referred to Fresno as being the "armpit" of California, but every time I venture out in the big bad world, I return with an every-increasing love for our city. We have everything we need here: shopping, schools, community involvement, safety, the arts, culture...and yes, even good Halloween trick-or-treating.

Now all we need is an IKEA, and we'll be good to go.