My favorite fall memories are almost all related to Halloween. I loved going trick-or-treating when I was a kid. There was candy and costumes. My aunt hates Halloween but she would always come to see my costume. Then she would go into hiding until the coast was clear from trick-or-treaters. I think she still does hides until Halloween is over.

When I was in college, there were Halloween parties. So two of my favorite things, dressing up and dancing, in one night. Plus, boys. It was a win-win-win. So much winning in those days.

When I was a young adult, the Halloween parties had costumes, dancing and booze.

After having kids, I got to dress them up for trick-or-treating and Halloween parades. My kids have been a variety of witches,unicorns, princesses, dragons, lions, superheroes and vampires.

This year the teenager is going to be a Steampunk masquerade person. The middle kid wants to be Wolverine. The youngest wants to be a vampire. I’m still aiming for the Mad Hatter.

Lucas thinks I should dress everyone as a vampire and scare the neighbor. No matter what, we have to make a trip to the Halloween store for wigs and hats and Wolverine claws. We’re already set with the vampire teeth.