I remember it like it was yesterday. The day when everything unlocked.
Halloween, 2008.
The air always felt different on Halloween day. Brisk but welcoming, cold but not freezing, spooky but warm and inviting. If you’re a Halloween lover, you understand.
I remember that morning waking up for school, WAY earlier than usual. My mom had made an early 6am trip to our local donut place for some Halloween themed donuts.
(Which always somehow tasted better)
She had bought each of us 3 siblings a Halloween ghost plush & a Halloween chocolate bar. Even though I felt too “old” for it, I still loved the extra little hints of Halloween my mom added. My mother is just wonderful. She’s a Halloween lover like us. (The ones reading this blog post)
She always made a point to make it the warmest holiday yet. She still does till this very day.
I got to school that day in 2008, and everything was decorated in Halloween themed ribbons. We had no school work, and instead got to watch ‘Goosebumps’. This doesn’t happen anymore, but I MISS when schools actually celebrated things.
I remember I got picked up from school early that day. My dad had picked up some giant pumpkins from the store, and we went to my grandmothers house to carve them. We carved terrifying faces into the pumpkins….I’ll try to find a photo.
I remember my conscious “clicked” in that moment. It was like I was watching myself from outside my body. I remember the warmth, the happiness, the feeling of it never wanting to end. I watched my siblings and father laugh and smile.
My grandma was big on Halloween too. Her house was “THE” house to go to for Halloween. She always had a giant themed block party. She makes 2 types of chili, sugar cookies, & cornbread. We feed the whole block and welcome anyone and everyone. I miss it. The warmth and kindness before the world went to shit.
My costume that year was a zombie Snow White. I was decked out in fake blood, prosthetics, the works. I even was handed a REAL scythe for photos hahahah.
The sun started to go down and the people started to show up. 100+ people in and out through the night. SO many humans in one place. It was orange. Everything had a fire glow, + We had twinkle lights, a bonfire in the front yard, and the older guys even brought their guitars and harmonicas and played songs through the evening. My friends showed up and we of course decided to go trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood did Halloween right. They started decorating and preparing MONTHS in advance, so every house had a theme and always went all out. It was the best.
We went trick-or-treating and had the best night. I remember feeling so calm and safe. Even on the spookiest night of the year. I’m a feeler. I’m intuitive and I feel what others feel. I think I resonate with that day so much because it’s one of the very few times in my life that everyone felt the same way.
“Happy and grateful”.
I never wanted it to end.
But like all things, there’s always an end. Or a break at least. Nothing can last forever… or at least that’s what I believe but I believe change is healthy and good too. I think some of the human purpose is to create memories.
That’s my goal. To make Halloween feel like that day in 2008 again. To make the warmth seep through in even the deepest of cracks.
I want it to stick like tar and never fully wash out.
I think this years Halloween is going to be amazing. I’m excited already and it’s only July. I’ve started counting down and thinking up costume ideas. I’ve started seeing hints of Halloween in stores too. (HELLO TJMAXX)
If you’re a Halloween lover, I’m sure there’s a Halloween where you’ve felt this warmth too. I’d love to hear about it. I want to know your likes about Halloween and why it’s your favorite!
Let’s make this Halloween feel like the good old days. Let’s slow down and take it in….and maybe…just maybe. It’ll last forever.
- J.S
#summerween #halloween #halloween2025
Halloween, 2008.
The air always felt different on Halloween day. Brisk but welcoming, cold but not freezing, spooky but warm and inviting. If you’re a Halloween lover, you understand.
I remember that morning waking up for school, WAY earlier than usual. My mom had made an early 6am trip to our local donut place for some Halloween themed donuts.
(Which always somehow tasted better)
She had bought each of us 3 siblings a Halloween ghost plush & a Halloween chocolate bar. Even though I felt too “old” for it, I still loved the extra little hints of Halloween my mom added. My mother is just wonderful. She’s a Halloween lover like us. (The ones reading this blog post)
She always made a point to make it the warmest holiday yet. She still does till this very day.
I got to school that day in 2008, and everything was decorated in Halloween themed ribbons. We had no school work, and instead got to watch ‘Goosebumps’. This doesn’t happen anymore, but I MISS when schools actually celebrated things.
I remember I got picked up from school early that day. My dad had picked up some giant pumpkins from the store, and we went to my grandmothers house to carve them. We carved terrifying faces into the pumpkins….I’ll try to find a photo.
I remember my conscious “clicked” in that moment. It was like I was watching myself from outside my body. I remember the warmth, the happiness, the feeling of it never wanting to end. I watched my siblings and father laugh and smile.
My grandma was big on Halloween too. Her house was “THE” house to go to for Halloween. She always had a giant themed block party. She makes 2 types of chili, sugar cookies, & cornbread. We feed the whole block and welcome anyone and everyone. I miss it. The warmth and kindness before the world went to shit.
My costume that year was a zombie Snow White. I was decked out in fake blood, prosthetics, the works. I even was handed a REAL scythe for photos hahahah.
The sun started to go down and the people started to show up. 100+ people in and out through the night. SO many humans in one place. It was orange. Everything had a fire glow, + We had twinkle lights, a bonfire in the front yard, and the older guys even brought their guitars and harmonicas and played songs through the evening. My friends showed up and we of course decided to go trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood did Halloween right. They started decorating and preparing MONTHS in advance, so every house had a theme and always went all out. It was the best.
We went trick-or-treating and had the best night. I remember feeling so calm and safe. Even on the spookiest night of the year. I’m a feeler. I’m intuitive and I feel what others feel. I think I resonate with that day so much because it’s one of the very few times in my life that everyone felt the same way.
“Happy and grateful”.
I never wanted it to end.
But like all things, there’s always an end. Or a break at least. Nothing can last forever… or at least that’s what I believe but I believe change is healthy and good too. I think some of the human purpose is to create memories.
That’s my goal. To make Halloween feel like that day in 2008 again. To make the warmth seep through in even the deepest of cracks.
I want it to stick like tar and never fully wash out.
I think this years Halloween is going to be amazing. I’m excited already and it’s only July. I’ve started counting down and thinking up costume ideas. I’ve started seeing hints of Halloween in stores too. (HELLO TJMAXX)
If you’re a Halloween lover, I’m sure there’s a Halloween where you’ve felt this warmth too. I’d love to hear about it. I want to know your likes about Halloween and why it’s your favorite!
Let’s make this Halloween feel like the good old days. Let’s slow down and take it in….and maybe…just maybe. It’ll last forever.
- J.S
#summerween #halloween #halloween2025
