A Peck of Gold

Hallo-WHAT?

I love Halloween. There, I said it.

Most of the churches I've belonged to have had an "alternative" to the holiday, like Harvestfest or Fallfestival, or Reformation Day. (Reformation Day being a Presbyterian concoction). Now, don't get me wrong, those can be fun. You still get to dress up - usually like Noah's Ark animals but still, it's a costume. You still get the candy - but it's in little party bags all ready to go. You even get to play some games - who doesn't love the team relays? But, there's just something missing in these "alternatives". It's like nutrasweet and sugar. Yeah, nutrasweet is technically a sweetener... but... come on. I want sugar.

I love the feeling you get on Halloween. Giddy and breathless, running up and down the neighborhoods, getting a little chilly, being a little scared. Creeping around the dry ice fogs and fake spider webbing on your neighbors front porch. Jumping and hollaring at the pumpkin-headed scarecrow when it cackles menacingly. Giggling at the little old lady next door that you never expected to dress up like Frankenstein's Bride. Singing the "Ghost of John" song at school with two dozen excited kids. Carving a goofy looking pumpkin and being immensely proud of the snaggle tooth. Knocking on the door and saying those beautiful words, "trick or treat!" in a Princess Leia costume.

It's great to be a kid.