BOO!

It's that witching time everyone. It just got dark out and children have begun that chilly hike around town to see who can acquire the most Snickers bars.

I remembering looking forward to October 31 more than Christmas. It wasn't even about the candy. I just loved being able to climb into a new skin for the night - be someone who I am usually not and jump three feet when some clever homeowner jumped out of their front bushes on Halloween night. 

Now that I am older, I still dress up but it's not the same. I get candy now at the local grocery store instead of from peoples candy buckets that they hold out to me on their porch step. I have become an adult. One who loves when little kids toddle up to the door step for a Reses cup and resents those high schoolers who dress in all black, giving the false impression of a costume, and dive into the candy bucket without a simple "Trick or Treat!" 

Since I stopped trick or treating I have had a nostalgic pang in my heart every Halloween. 

As costumes trend toward the sexy version of Belle, a police officer, animals of all kinds, and well, a sexy version of everything, it seems Halloween has become more of a spring break version of dress up. It seems only children under five are still dressing up as their hero's or who they want to be when they grow up. 

 

One Halloween, I dressed up as a news reporter.

If you're an adult who wants to dress up as a scantily-clad Snow White, that's up to you. But more kids seem to be paying more and more money for less and less cloth in their costume. It is nearly impossible to find the average witch costume or even zombie costume - even in the kids section. Oh, and I doubt the wicked witch wore fishnets.

Halloween seems to be part of the push that is allowing kids grow up too fast. And here I am, in my early twenties, longing for the day when I dressed up as 50s girl or a warty witch and came home, exhausted and cold, to count out my absurd candy supply as my mom made me hot chocolate. 

I can't fight the trend of Halloween costumes when I sit out on the porch to hand out candy tonight, but I will encourage everyone who celebrates the haunting holiday to enjoy it as it used to be. Don a scary mask and bake pumpkin pie while watching slasher films all night. (Not all at the same time...) Remember what Halloween was like when you were a kid. That's easy for me as I am still terrified of scary movies, but try to tap into your inner zombie tonight and see how thrilling and chilling your night can get.

And of course, have a Happy Halloween!