Boo this & boo that. . .

Being an avid fan of Halloween Forum - I get a rush of adrenalin every time I log on and see the "Days Until Halloween..." at the top of the Home Page. I seem to live my life in similar time table increments -
10 Days Until Thanksgiving... 35 Days until Christmas...38 Days until my wedding anniversary... you get the picture.

But now I find I am looking back. I am surrounded by boxes and bins and a menagerie of props, decorations, pumpkins and party goods - I realize that my life is as bursting at the seams with "stuff" as my house is right now. Orange and Black are gradually blending into a pallet of Green and Red right before my eyes. It's out of my hands - out of control... all so unstoppable...

So before I get too immersed in the season of giving - I am taking the time to reflect and be thankful BEFORE the actual day to do it arrives.

I am thankful for friends and family and (relative) good health. I am thankful for a roof over my head, a family that puts up with me, and best of all - I am thankful for every day above ground. That is the metaphorical message of Halloween celebrating after all , isn't it? We toy with death - we laugh in the face of zombies, we squeal with delight at every creepy, crawly experience we can fantasize for the sake of little Trick or Treaters. We are all reaffirming our temporary status on this planet to be sure, but aren't you also doing it more for your own inner child that longs to hold onto the way it all makes you feel...?
And it does make me feel --- wonderful! In spite of the mess, the total and utter chaos, the marital arguments that (thankfully) tumble into belly laughs( "I want that headstone over there!! 'NO I want it over there!!' Oh YEAH?? Well - I'll just put it OVER THERE FOR YOU!!," as the offending foam headstone is flung across yard... sheesh...) we embraced Halloween in all its gruesome splendor. Now, even while visions of sugarplums dance in our heads, we take great and lengthy pains to evaluate each detail in time for NEXT Halloween.

I realize as I set the Leg Lamp in the window - and dig the boughs and boxes out of the basement - I am really looking back on all the days SINCE a lifetime of events.

My children are all planning to be home for turkey and pie this year - a rare occurrence now that they have all grown and gone off in different directions.

Just before Halloween, and really ANY special event, I often find myself stating -- "So much to do -- so little time...!" It robs me of the full experience and deprives me just enough of living the moment, that I sometimes collapse into a puddle of sadness, lamenting 'it all went by sooo fast!! What happened!?!"

So this time - as I prepare for our family's Thanksgiving - I'm changing my tune. Even though the countdown clock on my favorite Forum is reminding me of all that lays ahead of me -- I promise instead to stop - sit - and take a deep breath and look back instead of forward.
After all -- 'tis the season to be thankful.

"So many memories...so little time..."