Halloween. Just the word conjures up a whirlwind of delightful images: smiling jack-o’-lanterns casting a warm glow, the comforting aroma of pumpkin-scented candles filling the air, the irresistible allure of pumpkin spice in everything from coffee to creamers, and of course, mountains of candy. Boo! It’s Halloween, and what’s not to adore about this spooktacular holiday? My own Halloween memories are a delightful mix of thrilling chills and sugary sweetness, a tapestry woven with threads of laughter, a touch of fear, and a whole lot of family fun. Let me share some of my cherished Halloween moments with you.
Smiling Jack-O-Lanterns
In today’s world, haunted houses are practically a dime a dozen, screaming horror movie sets popping up on seemingly every corner. But back in my day, a truly terrifying haunted house was a rare and coveted experience. Ours was legendary, known as “Scream in the Dark.” Its reputation for intense scares was so formidable that my brothers and I would willingly endure hours-long lines, just for the bragging rights of having survived its horrors. “Scream in the Dark” wasn’t some flimsy pop-up; it was nestled in a genuinely eerie, condemned old mansion, sprawling across a vast lot off one of the city’s main streets. The setting itself was half the fright! Perhaps the most heart-stopping elements weren’t even inside the house – it was the “Headless Horsemen” figures that stalked the grounds outside, and the admission price that felt like highway robbery to our young pockets!
Another unforgettable Halloween memory stars our German Shepherd, Machen, and Mr. Dailey, our neighbor and family friend – at least he was a friend before the incident. You need to understand, Machen wasn’t your average family pet. She was a registered German Shepherd, rigorously trained as a guard dog. Her previous family was moving and needed to rehome her. My mom, a true-blue dog enthusiast, saw Machen’s majestic presence and it was instant connection. Apparently, Machen felt the same way. And so, without fully considering the potential chaos of bringing a trained guard dog into a family home, Machen became ours. One Halloween, Mr. Dailey decided to surprise us with his costume – a classic black and white striped convict outfit. The moment the door swung open, Machen’s guard dog instincts kicked into overdrive. She locked eyes on the “convict” and, in a lightning-fast move, launched herself towards the door, determined to protect her family from this perceived threat. Luckily for Mr. Dailey, he still had some spring in his step. He bolted out of our house and managed to reach the front door just as Machen was about to “apprehend” him, I’m sure his life flashed before his eyes! Though utterly terrified, Mr. Dailey remained our friend, but from then on, he always called ahead to ensure Machen was safely secured before venturing onto our property. It became a funny, if slightly traumatic, family matter that we still laugh about.
Smiling Jack-O-Lanterns
Costumes, the quintessential element of Halloween, are another treasure trove of fond memories. My mom, despite juggling the demands of being a working mother, possessed a true family matter genius for crafting incredibly creative and unique costumes for us. What she lacked in spare time, she more than made up for in pure originality. I remember one year, she transformed me into a Geisha. With elegant draping and wrapping of oriental fabric around me to resemble a kimono, perfectly powdered face, expertly applied makeup, and styled hair, I was instantly transported into a delicate china doll. Truly adorable! Then there was the year I desperately wanted to be Lil’ Bo Peep for the school carnival. Mom, seeing how much it meant to me, agreed to create a homemade masterpiece. She fashioned it from a stunning shiny blue and gold brocade-like material, adorned with lace on the hem, neckline, and sleeves. Instead of a traditional bonnet, she crafted a sweet matching cap from the same fabric. I wore that costume with immense pride, parading through the school carnival halls, and even later, when I played Meg in the play Little Women. Just recently, I stumbled upon a photo of me in another of Mom’s costume creations. Around eight years old, I was the picture of glamour in an elegant turquoise dress, cinched with a slim black belt, topped with a fashionable straw hat, tiny stockinged feet teetering in oversized high heels, face flawlessly made up, and elbow-length white gloves completing the look. Standing proudly beside my parents’ car, I was the epitome of a genuine Glamour Girl. Absolutely stunning! Mom’s costume ingenuity was a true family matter genius in action, turning simple materials into unforgettable Halloween magic.
The annual Halloween Carnival at my grade school was another highlight of the season, even more exciting than just dressing up. It was simply awesome. I have no idea who was behind the design, but the haunted house they created in the school’s art department was truly incredible. I vividly recall bodiless, bloody heads perched on tables draped in white sheets, undoubtedly concealing the bodies (thankfully still attached!) beneath. These “bloody heads” were terrifyingly interactive, actually talking to you as you cautiously walked past. Seriously creepy! I also remember a live, slithering snake at one of the spooky stations within the haunted house. That was my breaking point. I was out of that room in a flash, screaming at the top of my lungs the entire way.
But the Halloween Carnival wasn’t all about scares; it also featured fun games for families to enjoy together, like the classic Go Fish. My absolute favorite game, though, was the Cake Walk. Similar to Musical Chairs, players would circle around numbered squares on the floor while music played. When the music stopped, you froze and found the nearest number. A number was then drawn from a hat, and whoever was standing on the matching square was the lucky winner. The prize, as you might guess, was a cake. Not just a slice, but a whole, glorious cake! The winner would then approach a table laden with an array of cakes, homemade and store-bought, and choose their prize. The earlier in the evening you won the Cake Walk, the better the cake selection. I eagerly anticipated this game every year. One year, incredibly, not only did I win a cake, but both of my brothers did too! That’s three whole cakes – one for each of us! Another delightful game I was obsessed with was the Doll Walk. Identical to the Cake Walk, but the prize was your pick of dolls. Some of these dolls were truly beautiful, collector’s items even. One year, my brother Rich, in a rare display of humility and generosity, actually won the Doll Walk, chose a stunning blond doll in a beautiful red dress, and presented her to me. It was a glimpse of the generous man he would eventually become. These carnival games were a perfect example of how simple family matter genius could create so much joy.
And of course, no Halloween recollection is complete without mentioning Trick-or-Treating and the glorious bounty of candy. Another year, my mom, the master costumer, worked her magic yet again, transforming us into adorable hobos using Dad’s old torn shirts, floppy felt hats, and charcoal-smudged cheeks. Eager to begin our candy quest, Mom taught us a song, “just in case someone asks you for a trick before they give you a treat.” Now, seasoned Trick-or-Treat veterans that we were, we had never once encountered anyone actually requesting a trick. So, as usual, Mom was “over-preparing” us for a highly improbable scenario. Smart kids that we were, we humored our mom and learned the “trick,” which consisted of memorizing the song “Side-By-Side.” I still remember the lyrics:
Though we ain’t got a barrel of money,
Maybe we’re ragged and funny.
But we travel along,
Singin’ a song,
Side-by-side.
After enduring Mom’s impromptu music lesson, we were finally set loose. Typically, we’d race to the end of our block, working our way back towards home, pausing only briefly for strategy updates and candy reconnaissance from neighborhood kids who had already assessed the sugar situation. Houses handing out Snickers – excellent. Unidentifiable taffy – avoid. Nearly back home, we stopped at a house directly across the street from ours. A sweet, little old lady answered our knock. Opening the door and spotting three miniature hobos, we simultaneously shouted, “Trick or Treat!” Opening our bags wide with anticipation, we fully expected the automatic candy cascade. However, with a rather mischievous grin, the dear lady uttered, “Trick first, then Treat.” What? You have to be kidding me! In all our years of Trick-or-Treating, no one had ever dared to request a trick. Until now. How did Mom know? After the initial shock of her request and the dawning realization that we actually had to perform for our treats, I launched into “Side-By-Side.” My brothers stood there, mouths agape, completely speechless. So, instead of a trio performance, I was belting out a solo rendition. In hindsight, the song I should have sung was “All By Myself.” Such is the fate of being the older sister. As my solo performance concluded, our neighbor lady finally rewarded us with a generous handful of treats. Proving once again, that Mom is always right. This whole trick-or-treating adventure, with the unexpected song request, truly highlighted my mom’s family matter genius for anticipating every possible scenario.
Today, we still celebrate Halloween, although our traditions have evolved since my childhood. One of our family’s favorite traditions is watching Disney’s enchanting version of “Sleepy Hollow.” Bing Crosby’s narration and singing through Washington Irving’s classic tale of Ichabod Crane is simply unbeatable. We also indulge in fifty-cent corn dogs from Sonic and a free Halloween-themed donut from Krispy Kreme. And I always keep a large bag of candy stocked, just in case any Trick-or-Treaters brave enough to approach my door. And if you happen to find yourself in my neighborhood on Halloween night, heed my warning: don’t say “Trick-or-Treat” unless you are truly prepared to deliver a trick! Now, go conjure up some spooky and sweet Halloween memories of your own!
