I’ve never been a fan of Halloween.

I don’t really know why. I never felt comfortable as a kid dealing with costumes. My family never made a big deal or was even really supportive of the whole costume thing. They did make a very big deal about what candy or toy they were going to give out to the trick-or-treaters.  A lot of years, I didn’t go door-to-door for candy beyond a few neighbors. Instead, I tended to stay home and give out the candy. I didn’t really care for that, either.

The whole day of the dead thing didn’t come home to me until much later in life. By then, it didn’t mean much to me because it wasn’t connected to my upbringing.

I do like the fall. The colors and the cooler weather. I like putting up a wreath on the door. I liked as a kid seeing the leaves on the Ohio trees change colors. We live in southern Nevada. Not a lot of trees here to change colors.

When we bought our home, I decorated and carved pumpkins, feeling it was my civic and neighborly duty to participate. There was  a moment of fun. But, I’m not a talented pumpkin carver. So, they all looked childish to me. Then, I spent the night trying to calm the dogs as 7-8 kids eventually knocked on our door. The prep felt more like a waste of time than anything else. And, so we became one of the many houses with the lights turned off to discourage anyone from knocking.

This year, Halloween falls on a bowling night and that’s where I’ll be, away from home, hanging out with friends and putting up with their silliness. It’s happening, I’m turning into an old curmudgeon and actually, I’m liking the transition.

Get off my porch!