What I Love About Halloween

1.  I love the fall atmosphere that comes with Halloween; the smell of cider, apple, fire places, and of course, all the pumpkin spice.  I love the cooler weather; being able to wear jackets and boots and scarves.  I love the colors; the yellows, oranges, reds, crimsons, browns, and golds.  I love knowing that even in difficult times, we all still have something worth celebrating, that we all look forward to. 

2.  I love the fun and creativity.  I love thinking of costumes and dressing up.  I love the idea that creepy things can happen, that ghosts can come back to visit, and there are still things that can't be explained.  Anything is possible on Halloween.

3.  I love Halloween movies.  I love the kid's classics such as "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" "Scooby Doo on Zombie Island," and "Casper."  I love the genuinely scary ones like "Paranormal Activity" and "The Blair Witch Project."  I love M. Night Shyamalan's hits "The Sixth Sense," "Signs," and "The Village."  Above all, however, I love "Hocus Pocus."

4.  I love Halloween music.  "The Monster Mash," "Ghostbusters," "The One-Eyed One-Horned Flying  Purple People Eater," "Werewolves of London," "Love Potion #9." etc...

5.  I LOVE CANDY.

6.  I love the idea of magic and witchcraft, though there is no way you will get me to participate.  I don't necessarily believe in it, but I sure as heck will not take part in any sort of spell or incantation or ritual.  Better safe than sorry.

For anyone who's always wanted one...

7.  I love carving Jack-O- Lanterns ( http://jacquelinesmithphotography.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-carve-pumpkin.html ).

8.  I love Halloween decorations; ghosts and spider webs and cemeteries and haunted houses.

9.  I love being scared.

10.  I love celebrating Halloween with my very own Black Cat!

My Midnight.

*All photographs © copyright by Jacqueline E. Smith.