By Liz, enjoying all the scares that October brings!
For all you Christmas people who say December is the most wonderful time of the year – I have to respectfully disagree with you. October and Halloween is my most wonderful time. I love it all – the scary movies, the crazy costumes, the anything goes attitude – and, yeah, the candy. Even though I try to eat better candy these days, I’m still a sucker for Milk Duds.
Like my criminal- and murder-focused tendencies (well, in books anyway), I’m not quite sure where my love for Halloween came from. My parents certainly didn’t have it. They did the obligatory kids’ Halloween parties for me as a child, but they were never overly enthused about the holiday in general.
But I’ve always loved Halloween, magic and witchy things. I went to college in Salem, Mass., which reinforced that love affair. I was a sucker for any kind of mystical totem: crystals, oracle cards, magical books, tarot, you name it. When the “official Salem witch” Laurie Cabot’s store was on the wharf in Salem, I was a regular. You name it, I bought it. I have also had a long-time fascination with Stevie Nicks, the original witchy woman, and I emulated her in my clothing choices every chance I got over the years – platform boots and all.
Long after I graduated college, I spent my Octobers in Salem. If you’ve never been, seriously, you have to go. It’s changed a bit these days, but it’s still a blast. The entire month of October is a constant costume party. And they have Haunted Happenings all month long. And even though I knew the Salem lore like the back of my hand, I could never resist joining a candlelight ghost tour if the opportunity arose. And Shaggy was a 
Scary movies and books have always been my jam too. I once tried to watch a scary movie every night during Halloween season. With the house decked out in orange lights, some hot apple cider and a glowing carved pumpkin in the background, what better way to spend an evening?
Well – maybe at a haunted house. I do love haunted houses…and the scariest experience I ever had at one involved nuns. Which I think is a product of my childhood Catholic school experiences.
This year, I haven’t been as much in the spirit. But there’s still a week left. I think this weekend I’m going to get some orange lights, pick out the scariest movie on Netflix I can find, and drink some hot cider. There might even be a pumpkin involved.
Readers, chime in with your verdict! Halloween – love it or hate it?