The Halloween Parade

Happy Halloween! It’s hard to believe that it’s been another year already, another fall, another season. It’s still early in the morning here as I sit at my computer writing this. Through my window the street is quiet. The sun is out, no one else is. But even though it’s early, soon the street will be filled with trick or treaters, dressed in costumes, yelling and laughing. There is too much fun to be had to wait. As the night comes the decorations will light–the dragons with orange flamed tongues, the skeletons with glowing faces, the glittering colors everywhere, the brilliant orange purple and green, the pumpkins with crooked grins and the tombstones with witty sayings teasing death. Everything is alight, anticipating the night to come. It’s funny, because when night falls, this is not usually the case. The night often scares us, deep down. Not being able to see, the surprises hidden in the darkness awaken our most basic human fears. When the night falls we go indoors, turn on the lights. Stay where it is warm and bright.

But not tonight. Tonight the night beckons.

I like to call it the Halloween Parade, the long, winding path of fun mixed with fear, with candy and treats, the world around us cast in an orange light. The excitement of wearing a costume, of pretending to be something that on other occasions would be considered impossible. Today, you can be anything you can imagine and put together.

What are you doing today? Will you be dressing up, trick or treating or maybe taking someone else trick or treating? Or staying home with a book and a warm drink or a movie. Perhaps working, or writing, or resting. Today I’ll be out in the parade, not for long, but for a little while. When I come home I’ll think about the Halloween Parade, winding away, traveling into the land of holidays past, leaving behind it glitter, candy wrappers and memories. Next year it will be back, announcing the beginning of the Halloween season with the smell of pumpkin spice, the crackle of leaves and chilly nights.

Now we begin the journey to the next season, with breakneck speed traveling towards winter. Already the stores are filling with Christmas and winter celebrations, snow and candy canes, and lots of silver sparkly gifts. I’m not sure I’m ready yet. I want to enjoy this one a little longer, bask in the Halloween air for just a few more hours. And when it is really over, I’ll sit outside, and I’ll think about what is left of autumn. It’s not quite over yet.

Long live the Halloween Parade.

Thanks for reading and have a safe and happy night 🙂

-Winter