What's Awesome About This Halloween?

I'm still here. My husband is too. We've been working side by side creating a mess in our yard and house. LOL
Neighbors stop by to talk to us while we are working.
The leaves are changing. The weather is cooler. I love the sounds of geese and flocks of starlings.
I've scarfed down more pumpkin bread in the past two weeks than any person should.
My six year old helped me paint cemetery fence yesterday and exclaimed he was the 'bestest cemetery fence painter ever'.
My disabled son asks me every day if his costume arrived and if I bought the candy yet.
Just now... we stopped the car on the side of the road and watched the farm workers picking pumpkins and followed the tractor down the street. My boys eager to see if any pumpkins would fall out of the wagon.
It's all of it. The little things. Life.

I absolutely adore this time of year.
Thank you for asking.

This Halloween is huge for me.

I wrote my first novel, a story about the holiday, and released it this year. I suppose this holiday will always be huge for me.


For those of you maybe not feeling it yet, or perhaps dealing with other things in life, I understand. Sometimes, Halloween is a creepy movie, some sinister music, one lone jack o'lantern faithfully guarding the front step and a couple of chocolate bars - and that is all it needs to be.

I have a lot of heroes on this forum, folks who spend many a sweaty hour in dusty garages and cluttered living rooms crafting fantastic moments for strangers, neighbors and friends. You give us visions and and encounters we only dreamed of.
Your house is the house we all remember when we were children, the house that understood, the residence that set the standard.
You taught us that conquering fear has its rewards, that fright was to be laughed at and turned into a plaything on Halloween.
You gave us respite from our troubles as winter came creeping, and you inspired us to try the same.

Don't you dare feel obligated. Don't let this festival become a chore, or worse, fill you with a sense of loss if you don't go hardcore each and every year.

I'd rather see your homes after batteries are recharged and spirits renewed.
I'd rather see you walk through Autumn's handiwork relaxed than burn the season away with stress and depression.

I'd rather you let Halloween, just every now and then, treat you to some ease and horrible joy, ghoulish delights and ghastly fun.

How can a chef improve if he doesn't stop and eat? And how can he relish the meal without an appetite?

Let Halloween happen as it will.
This will be a great Halloween, even if it's only a cup of warm cider and this forum.

Good thread, thank you for starting it.