This Is Halloween

I love, love, love Halloween!!!

Its not my favorite holiday (that honor goes to Christmas) but it is a very close second.

I've always celebrated Halloween. I was born in May 1982 and my very first Halloween costume came in October 1982. I don't remember it obviously, but I'm told that I made a very cute Raggedy Ann. I dress up for school and for work. If I don't have either, then I dress up and hit the town. I've dressed up every year except for Halloween 2000.

Just a few days before Halloween that year, my older cousin Bridgette passed away. She was 24. I was 18. I just didn't have it in me to dress up that year. It seemed too soon after her death to celebrate anything...let alone something as joyous as Halloween. In all honesty though, Bridgette's death taught me to celebrate Halloween even more. It took me a few years, but shortly after Bridgette passed, I started having a Halloween party of my own for family and friends.

(Bridgette & Me, 1983) (Bridgette's Senior Picture)

It started out simple enough. Our first year it was primarily just family, I paid for most of it, there were a few games and prizes, a Costume Contest, some karaoke, and a "haunted hay maze." As the years went on though, the party grew and grew. These days I can no longer afford to pay for it all because there are just too many people. Its still focused mainly on children but now the children include both family and friends and the occasional neighbor that happens to wander down Nunn Road. Everyone brings candy and food or drinks. Most people dress up (including the adults) and participate in the Costume Contest.


There's always a lot going on at the party, and I usually run myself ragged (I usually have blisters on my feet by the time the night is over...no joke), but I love it. Its worth it every time a kid asks me, "When are we doing this again?!" They are always a little disappointed when I tell them they have to wait until next year.

This year will be the fifth year for the party. I hope to make it bigger and better than before. Costume Contest, karaoke, Lip Syncing Contest, pinata, dancing, games, prizes, haunted house, so on and so forth. Maybe even some after dark scary movies set up outside to get us all in the spooky Halloween mood. Who knows? I like to plan a little...and then play a little by ear. That's just how I am.

Each year I send out invitations to those that are regulars to the party. I call it "April's Annual Halloween Bash" and our motto is "The party don't stop, until somebody cries!" (Because I have successfully made either an adult or a child, and sometimes both, cry from fear before the night is over.) I'm thinking of changing the name though...in honor of Bridgette. After her passing I learned a great deal about the importance and value of life and the people you have in it, especially your family and those you consider to be family. Since I started the party as a way to bring us all closer after her death, I'm thinking of changing the name to reflect that. I'm just not sure what to change it to as of yet.

Anyway, October 24th is the date of the party this year. I hope to see you there. I'll be the man in blue with the pointy ears. ;-)

(My costume this year.)