We’re fast approaching the holiday season and my FAVORITE is just around the corner. Halloween! I think it’s the coolest…you get to dress up, eat things that are bad for you, you don’t have to buy anyone expensive gifts and you have no real family obligations.

I stopped wearing costumes only about 10 years ago when I retired from teaching. Actually, two years before that. My last two years in the classroom were spent at a very conservative Catholic school and costumes were frowned on. (Just about anything fun was frowned on…heck, the girls couldn’t even wear pants to school during the winter and this was 1996!)

But before that, I was at a really cool Catholic school and dressing up for Halloween was fun. One year I was a witch. Not a sexy one or an ugly one, just a pretty one. Think Glinda, but all in black. Another year, I was a devil. See? Sense of humor.

Now that I have a child, I’m more about her costume. This year, she’s going as Hermoine Granger, which makes me proud as punch. Last year, she was a Greek goddess. The year before, Mulan–but only because I let her accessorize with a sword. She’s fun to buy for, this kid.

My neighborhood takes Halloween pretty seriously, too. One neighbor sets up a spooky “haunted” scene on his patio and hires his friends to jump out at the kids from the shadows. About half of the neighbors set up their candy outside, replete with lawn chairs and tropical drinks (I live in Florida!) and greet trick or treaters and their neighbors like it’s a big block party. All the children under 13 are accompanied by parents…I know I’ll be there. My brother and his wife, who live in a tiny neighborhood, always come spend the holiday with us, so I’ll be doing a little cooking. I found recipes for melted witches and spider pigs in a blanket. It’s going to be a ball!

So, what are your plans for this wonderfully fun holiday? Do you dress up? What about the kidlets? How does your neighborhood treat this fun time to get out and about?