It's Halloween this weekend, so be prepared.
Remember the good ol' days of TP-ing your friends' yards and the occasional tossed egg around this time of year?
Well, those days are gone.
Still, be prepared for a weekend of trick-or-treaters, because there could be an influx tonight or on Sunday, which is Halloween proper.
And gang, go get a decent bag of candy. Don't be the house that has an open bag of Skittles or individual Starbursts.
You can splurge and drop $10 on mini-chocolates or a variety pack.
That said, if you want to get an idea of who the future neighborhood rabble-rousers will be, plant a couple of bags of candy corn or random licorice packages in the candy bowl.
Because anyone who would choose either of those over chocolate is someone worth keeping an eye on down the road.
A predictable study
Campus Pride, a nonprofit national group interested in LGBTQ advocacy, recently identified Bryan College, Covenant College and Lee University among the worst colleges in the country for LGBTQ students.
First, no one should be mistreated. The findings of Campus Pride should be common sense, right? The local schools mentioned are Christian schools with clearly stated beliefs and exemptions in most cases from Title IX requirements.
From the Times Free Press story by Wyatt Massey, Bryan College's student handbook bans "dishonesty, theft, vandalism, fornication, adultery, homosexual behavior, immodest dress, profanity, gossip and drunkenness," because these things are banned in the Bible.
If these facts are known on the front end, shouldn't you just cross Bryan - or the others - off your college list if you suspect you won't be a good fit for that school community? Shouldn't more time be spent looking for colleges that are more supportive of your worldview and lifestyle?
Obit observation
At my age, scanning the obituaries of the newspaper can create a sense of trepidation, especially recently.
When someone close to my age and who I knew appears on the page, it gives me great pause.
Steve Bettis was that name this week. The successful and accomplished Chattanooga businessman died from COVID-19-related pneumonia. He was 55.
I could quote at least a dozen of his friends and share a deluge of text messages folks passed along. But I think this passage from his obit this week says it best:
"For those who knew Steve, one can surely attest that there was no better friend or ally He was the master of networking, prime builder of teams, thoughtful innovator and the most loyal of friends. Steve's infectious belly laugh and genuine, yet mischievous, grin were magnetic in ways that drew others to him."
And will also be among the many things we miss about him.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.
Jay Greeson