I don’t know how to explain it, but Halloween has always felt like home to me.
And before anyone asks, no, I don’t mean I want to live in a haunted house.
Okay, actually, depending on the haunted house, I might consider it. 😂
But seriously.
There’s just something about Halloween that makes me genuinely happy. Something about the decorations, the atmosphere, the movies, the costumes, and all the little things that come with it.
It’s more than just one day on the calendar.
It’s a feeling.
And it’s one I’ve had for as long as I can remember.
🎃 It Started When I Was Little
I’ve loved Halloween since I was a kid.
I used to LOVE dressing up. And when I think back on my childhood Halloweens, I can still remember some of my costumes.
I was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I was Cruella de Vil. And, of course, I was the Pink Power Ranger.
Because apparently even as a child, I had range. 😂
One year I wanted to be a Disney princess, another year I was a Disney villain, and somewhere in there I was ready to fight crime in a pink spandex suit.
Honestly, that pretty much sums up my personality.
I remember going trick-or-treating with my cousin Jared, too.
And for some reason, one of the memories that has stuck with me all these years is him dressed up as a vampire.
Why THAT particular costume is burned into my brain, I have absolutely no idea. 😂
But it is.
It’s funny how childhood memories work. You don’t always remember every detail or every Halloween, but certain little things just stick with you.
The costumes. The excitement. Going door to door collecting candy. Getting to be somebody else for a night.
And I loved every bit of it.
Looking back now, I think those memories are part of why Halloween still means so much to me.
It’s not just about the holiday itself.
It’s about remembering how exciting everything felt when I was little.
👻 And I’ve ALWAYS Loved Spooky Movies
Now, here’s something that hasn’t changed.
I’ve always loved spooky movies.
Even when I was younger, there was just something about scary stories and creepy things that I was drawn to.
And apparently, I never grew out of it.
Actually, I think it got worse. 😂
I love horror movies, scary television shows, creepy stories, and anything that gives you that feeling that something isn’t quite right.
Some people watch romantic comedies to relax.
I watch people get chased through the woods by masked killers.
We all have our ways of unwinding. 🖤
And that’s something I love about Halloween. For a little while, the rest of the world seems just as interested in spooky things as I am.
Horror movies are everywhere. Haunted houses are open. People are decorating with skeletons and ghosts.
It’s like the world finally catches up with me for a month.
Welcome, everybody. I’ve been here all year.
🖤 I’ve Always Loved the Weird Stuff
Some people love sunshine, beaches, and bright summer days.
And don’t get me wrong, I love a good vacation.
But give me a chilly October evening, a creepy movie, some Halloween decorations, and a cozy blanket?
I’m SET.
I’ve always been drawn to things that are a little different. The spooky, the strange, the mysterious, and sometimes the downright ridiculous.
I love witches. I love black cats. I love things that make other people say, “Why would you want THAT in your house?”
Because I LIKE IT, SUSAN. 😂
And I think that’s one of the things I love most about Halloween.
For a little while, the weird stuff becomes normal.
People are dressing up, getting creative, and embracing things they might not normally embrace.
And I love that.
🎃 It’s the Little Things
I think people sometimes assume that loving Halloween means you have to do something huge.
Go to every haunted house. Attend every event. Have the most elaborate costume. Decorate every square inch of your house.
And listen, I’m not saying I wouldn’t enjoy doing all of those things.
Because I absolutely would. 😂
But some of my favorite parts of Halloween are actually the simplest.
Walking through a store and seeing the Halloween decorations for the first time.
Finding a cute little ghost that I definitely don’t need.
Watching a horror movie I’ve already seen a hundred times.
Seeing pumpkins on people’s porches.
That feeling when the evenings start getting darker earlier and everything just feels a little more mysterious.
Even sitting at home with Eric and our animals, watching something spooky, is enough to make me happy.
There’s something comforting about it.
Which probably sounds ridiculous considering we’re talking about a holiday involving ghosts, monsters, and murderers.
But here we are. 😂
🐈⬛ Maybe It’s About Being Yourself
I think another reason Halloween means so much to me is that it’s a holiday that celebrates being different.
You can be whoever you want to be.
And maybe that’s something I loved about it even when I was little.
One Halloween I could be Belle, another I could be Cruella, and another I could be a Power Ranger.
There weren’t any rules about who you had to be.
You could just have fun.
And the older I get, the more I realize how important that really is.
Not everybody is going to understand my love for Halloween.
Not everybody wants spooky decorations in their house year-round.
Not everybody thinks a black cat is basically the greatest thing on the planet.
Although Draco would probably like to have a word with those people. 🐈⬛
But that’s okay.
We don’t all have to love the same things.
And I don’t think we should have to explain why something makes us happy.
Sometimes it just does.
🌙 It’s a Little Bit of Magic in an Otherwise Ordinary World
Life gets repetitive.
You wake up, go to work, come home, take care of responsibilities, and do it all again.
And sometimes, especially when life is stressful, it feels like you’re just trying to make it through the week.
But then October comes around.
Suddenly, the stores are full of pumpkins and ghosts. The decorations come out. The scary movies are on. People start planning costumes and Halloween activities.
And everything feels just a little more exciting.
I know Halloween doesn’t magically fix anything.
The bills are still there.
The responsibilities don’t disappear.
And whatever you’ve been worrying about doesn’t suddenly go away because you put a pumpkin on your porch.
Unfortunately. Because that would be AMAZING. 😂
But it gives me something to look forward to.
Something that makes an ordinary day feel a little more special.
And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
❤️ It’s More Than Just Halloween
I think that’s what I’ve been trying to explain all along.
When I say Halloween feels like home, I don’t necessarily mean a place.
I mean the feeling of being surrounded by things I love.
It’s the excitement I remember feeling as a little girl getting dressed up to go trick-or-treating.
It’s remembering those nights with Jared, walking around in our costumes and collecting candy.
It’s watching scary movies and getting that same feeling of excitement I’ve had since I was a kid.
And now, it’s making new memories.
It’s watching scary movies with Eric.
It’s decorating the house.
It’s our little zoo running around while I’m trying to enjoy a cozy evening.
It’s Draco looking like he belongs in a witch’s cottage, Falcor being his cuddly little self, Goose causing chaos, and Benny and Cash just being happy to be included.
It’s the traditions, old and new.
And honestly?
I think everybody deserves to have something that makes them feel that way.
👻 And No, I’m Not Ready for It to Be Over
Now, here’s my problem.
It’s Halloween week.
Which means the day I’ve been waiting for all year is almost here.
But it ALSO means October is almost over.
And I am simply not accepting that information at this time.
Please respect my privacy during this difficult transition. 😂
I’m not ready to put the decorations away.
I’m not ready for the Halloween aisles to disappear.
I’m not ready for everyone to start acting like spooky season is over.
But I guess that’s part of what makes it special.
We look forward to it, enjoy it while it’s here, and then start counting down until we get to do it all again.
Although let’s be clear.
I will still be watching horror movies in December.
And January.
And probably every other month.
Halloween is a lifestyle, not a seasonal commitment. 🖤
🎃 Home Is Wherever You Feel Like Yourself
Maybe that’s really what it comes down to.
Halloween feels like home because it’s been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember.
From dressing up as Belle, Cruella, and the Pink Power Ranger to watching scary movies and decorating my own home, it’s something that has followed me through so many different stages of life.
And I love that.
It’s one of those little pieces of childhood that never really went away.
I might be older now, with bills, responsibilities, a full-time job, and a whole lot more to worry about than what costume I’m going to wear.
But when Halloween rolls around, I still get excited.
I still love the costumes.
I still love the scary movies.
I still love the decorations.
And somewhere inside, I’m still that little girl who couldn’t wait to go trick-or-treating.
I hope I never lose that.
Because life changes. We grow up. Things get complicated.
But I think it’s pretty special when something can still make you feel the same excitement you felt as a kid.
So here’s to Halloween.
To the childhood memories, the costumes, the candy, the scary movies, and all the little things that have made this holiday so special to me.
And to never outgrowing the things that make you happy.
Because for me, Halloween will always feel like home. 🎃🖤
