I don’t particularly care for Halloween—as a “holiday” it provides no substantial meaning for me (which likely links to repressed childhood memories). But my Rotary club is committed to participating in Lowell Elementary’s Halloween parade each year, and I was compelled to volunteer a little time this morning to judge costumes.

I’m a bit awkward around children, but I know when they’re cute. And an elementary school full of kids in costumes is darn cute. Hard to judge, but cute.

I teamed up with a veteran, and the school principal took us to six first- and second-grade classrooms. Some of the kids were shy, and some sought our full attention, while others couldn’t have cared less about our presence in the room. At the end of each visit, the three of us stood in a corner to decide on the winners.

At the end of the judging, each of the classes lined up outside and marched to the field, which was decorated with pumpkins and hay bails. I had to leave shortly after the parade started, but not before hearing an interesting remark from the club president: he noted that the school where his wife teaches no longer celebrates Halloween because the kids are unruly, yet the students at Lowell—a school low in the ranks for performance, family income, etc.—were orderly, respectful, and genuinely pleasant.

What a great way to spend the morning.