i was talking to the sweetest lady at the [redacted] shop yesterday and she asked if i was aware of the u.s. association. apparently wanganui has a club of folks that get together once a month to talk about u.s. stuff.

she took me to the window where she had hung their flier with pictures celebrating u.s. holidays like the 4th of july, thanksgiving and halloween. i told her the best thing the u.s. association could do for new zealand is teach them how to properly conduct halloween.

in a gasp she told me “halloween should be banned. it does terrible harm to all the fairies and good elementals.”

it took a second, but i suggested folks could dress up as fairies, eat candies and what good elemental wouldn’t be pleased with that. but i could tell, my membership in the u.s. association had already been jeopardized.