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Growing up, I relished Halloween’s approach even more than Christmas. Santa had nothing on Halloween with jack-o’-lanterns, costumes and candy…
Halloween is the most magical time of year when adults and children can transform themselves into anyone or anything they like! It’s a day to embrace your darkest imagination and put it on display for the world to see.
Every year the crisp October air prompted my father to take my twin brother, mother and me to the local farm on Long Island to choose the biggest pumpkin we could find for the momentous occasion. That same night, after the dinner dishes had been cleared, Dad would put some old newspaper on the kitchen table, and hand my brother and me black magic markers and together we would draw a scary face for my father to carve with a sharp knife. We all looked on, fascinated, as he gutted the thing, scooping its innards into a bowl. When he finished, my mother would produce a thick white candle to place inside. We’d carry it carefully outside, set it down on the front porch next to the front door, and my mother would light the wick, giving the jack-o’-lantern an eerie glow for all to see.
On Halloween, my elementary school hosted a Ragamuffin Parade. My friends and I got to dress up in our Halloween costumes. I remember some of the boys went as members of the band Kiss, with black and white make-up and all.
I…
