In Anticipation of Halloween


I've always loved Autumn. September and October amaze me. Every thing about them The colors. The briskness. The breathtaking leaves. The way the clouds clump together over the fields. The cider and donuts and wearing sweaters and having hot cereal for supper. Candy corn. Those orange pumpkin shaped candies that make your teeth ache. More coffee. More homemade soups. More French goulash with corn muffins. More squash. Casseroles. Apples. Homemade applesauce and apple pies and apple pan dowdy. Cinnamon. Candles. Marvelous moons. Even rainbows.  

Once September slides into October, my thoughts turn toward Halloween. I've always loved Halloween. Probably when I was a kid, candy was the reason. But as I grew older I realized my love of Halloween was all about Anticipation. Anticipation of getting out Halloween decorations, some homemade and some from dollar stores. Some, hand me downs. Anticipation of going trick or treating. That never grows old. I love trick or treating. And if that night is eerie and if the wind is blowing leaves every which way and if the moon is full, shining behind bare, creepy branches and if witches and ghosts and pirates and fishermen and unicorns and foxes and reindeer and ghouls and clowns and cowboys and cowgirls and whatever else are running from house to house, ringing the doorbells and saying with wide-eyed anticipation, "Trick of Treat" then the anticipation was worth the wait. 
Dressing up to be someone or something other than yourself and then to go outside your home and be that someone or something other than yourself is freeing no matter your age. Guess that's why I love being a Witch!

My grandmother turned into a most spooky witch. She'd let her long gray hair down. With her crook of a nose and high-pitched cackle, along with her youthful spirit, she'd scare her grandchildren, including me. until we all ran screaming. 

I remember one particular Halloween after getting home from trick or treating. I was sitting on my bed sorting my candy by category-lollipops, bubble gum, candy bars, etc. when I heard something at my window. Pulling up the blind I was scared out of my wits by a cackling old creepy witch with long, gray hair and a hooked nose with a flashlight under her chin. I flew off my bed. My candy went flying. Anticipation turned from sorting candy to surviving.

Halloween is for all who hold dear to that childhood wonder. Trick or Treating is one marvelous reward. Even if you're trick or treating in rain or snow. Anticipation does not care.


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