Waiting for You on Halloween Night

Why do I love Halloween? As an artist, this holiday serves as a canvas for my creative imagination. Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage.” My stage is a little creepier than most.

This year’s setting evokes a dark theme. With bold strokes, my home has transformed into a haunted castle where vampires lurk and bats swoop down in hoards at unsuspecting guests. The bats have multiplied since last year.

Dead guys splattered along my driveway set the tone for the creepy night. They lie dead in my yard as a sign that all may not be well. Only the brave shall tread.

Decorating at dusk is like drawing with light. Halloween begs the lines to be drawn askew. Like a twisted web, it will lure the victims in…

Costumes are critical.

This year, we’ll wear our traditional Addams Family costumes. All family members will join in the fun. Well, Almost everyone.

I’ve concocted my traditional pumpkin cake. Two chocolate bundt cakes, plastered together and frosted in orange, form the hallowed gourd. I used a paper bag for a stem and wound a Philodendron stem around it for the vine. It’s a feast for the eyes and the gnawing in one’s stomach.

On Halloween night, the picture will come to life. Frightening music will stir souls from outdoor speakers. Strings of lights will welcome the little strangers. The doorbell will ring and the dry ice machine will blast to the squeals of miniature monsters, ghosts and fairies. When we open the door, suspended bats will swing back and forth to add to the scary deliciousness. Donned in our finest vampire attire, we’ll pass out our treats.

When all the candy is gone, the lights will go out. The canvas will be wiped clean for the next holiday.

Do you decorate for Halloween?