People have asked me why I enjoy Halloween so much and why I make such great effort to celebrate. In response, I present this somewhat long-winded diatribe:

Some of my most favorite childhood memories are those of Halloween -- the costumes, the decorations, and the sound of leaves crunching under foot as we went from house to house collecting goodies. I liked to see all the different ways people would carve their pumpkins. I especially enjoyed it when the adults would dress up in costume to hand out candy. I have one particular memory of a house in which the woman had dressed as a witch and had the house decked out with low lights, candles, and creepy music when she opened the door. My friends and I were both frightened and exhilarated. We got our candy and left, wondering "was she a *real* witch?" I wish I knew who she was so I could thank her, because that night was to influence me for many years.

As I got older, I began collecting and making Halloween props and decorations. My hobbies included lighting and electronics, so I had strobe lights, blacklights, sound effects and other creepy stuff. I helped with a couple of church/school haunts, but I really wanted to put on something of my own. As a teenager, I was able to do a couple of party haunts for some of my parent's friend's kids. The first year, I haunted their house. The next year, I haunted their barn with the help of some of my friends. The kids (and we) had a blast!

After that, I had few opportunities to exercise my talents. I finished high school and went to college, where I would dress up to hand out candy, but there were few children where I lived. It was disappointing... On the bright side, I won a keg of beer in a costume contest one year and had a great party with my friends!

I was not until after I graduated that I moved in a neighborhood with a significant trick-or-treater population. That first year (1989), I still had boxes to unpack, but I threw sheets over everything, set out some creepy stuff, a couple of blacklights and a strobe. One of my friends (Vampira) and I (Reaper) dressed up to entertain the spooks. I was surprised at the response my impromptu display received. Kids wanted to come in and see the "weird" stuff! I'd let them come in the living room to see the display, and direct them out the door to the side porch where Vampira was dancing under the strobe light. She would then point then towards the steps back to the yard. Even the parents got a kick out of it!

The next year, I set up a more elaborate display, and the response was again favorable. I was delighted to finally be living in a neighborhood in which I could share with others the thrill and excitement that I had enjoyed so many years before. Each year, I would build on the previous year's exhibit. I fill the yard with tombstones. I set up makeshift walls in the living room and on the porch to create a kind of maze. I've bought and made more props. I've added more blacklights, strobes, and even fog machines. Halloween 1997 marked the debut of my latest acquisition: a 1966 Cadillac hearse!

This may seem a bit extreme to most people, but to me it's worth it. With the help of almost two dozen friends and relatives, we put on a show that has become a neighborhood phenomenon! I love to see all the kids having such a good time. It's funny to watch some of them trying to act "brave" and then seeing them screaming and running away from the chainsaw guy! Most of my neighbors gather around the yard to watch the show and have a good time. It's like a block party! It really makes me feel good to see everyone enjoying themselves and having fun.

Of course, that only motivates me to work harder the following year...

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