The Old Man walked in the Autumn Woods. Grateful earth is enjoying the fall rain. MJ is downloading the entire Outlander television series. Jennifer and Annelise recommend it highly. The cloudy, cool skies are inviting. The summer has been marked by politically charged rhetoric, and the sweltering temperatures have intensified the conversation. Now we rest and regroup. Time to plan and reflect on the past. We think about where we have been and where we are going. What is our purpose as one of billions of humans that God has created?

The Old Man waits for fall. Born in the fall, a week before Halloween. Autumn has many pleasant memories. I remember walking with cousin Brenda to my first day of school at Hillcrest School in Eldorado. It was a new world after moving from Chicago a week or two prior to school opening. We lived in a haunted house on Illinois Avenue just across from the high school football field. We sat on the wrap-around front porch and watched the football team play. My cot was in a utility closet. I climbed onto the cot from the open door. There were several fireplaces in the old Victorian House, and when they were not lit, it was cold. The first morning, Neva J found a dead rat in the claw-foot bathtub. A coal furnace was in the basement. The fire would burn out at night. Mornings were frigid. A covered well was in the backyard. Sounds emanate from its murky depths. We shared the haunted house with my aunt Wanda and her family, who were uncle Bill and cousins Brenda and Billy. I had a bit of a crush on Brenda as she was so nice to me. Billy was a bit of a strange duck. He loved monsters. He collected Monster Magazines, which were a going item in the early ’60s. Billy particularly liked the Universal Studios Monsters. Frankenstinen, Dracula, and the Wolf Man, as well as the Creature From the Black Lagoon. The Mummy was also a subject of discussion.

‘This year the Halloween Party will be at my haunted house,’ Billy B announced. ‘I have the latest Universal Monster Magazine and Universal Monster Masks for all of the participants,’ Billy B exulted! ‘We will bob for apples and arrive at the Haunted House on a hayride from Raleigh to Eldorado,’ Billy B said. ‘We will begin the hayride at Raleigh’s Haunted House, which has a candle in every window,’ Billy B continued. ‘For the ride, we will drink apple cider,’ Billy B announced. ‘Wear your jackets and navy caps for the cold bite in the air,’ Billy B cautioned.

‘Look what is coming down the road,’ Jane said. ‘It is a man riding a horse, but I can not see his face,’ Jane continued. ‘Oh my goodness, he is holding a Jack-O-Lantern under his arm, Jane said with fright in her voice. ‘Them Headless Horsemen are beckoning us to follow him,’ Jane observed through her semi-covered eyes. ‘The Jack-O-Lantern is laughing,’ Jane said in a whisper.

‘Welcome Frankenstein said to the Holiday Revelers.’ Mrs. F and I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival. Frankenstein continued. ‘Could I interest you in a Dirty Martini?’ Frankenstein asked. ‘We also have cigars for your enjoyment,’ Frankenstein said with a big smile. ‘We have been pursuing the Universal Monster Magazines and trying on the Masks,’ Frankenstein laughed.

‘A most exciting development occurred just before you arrived on your Hayride,’ Mrs. Frankenstein said. ‘We heard the scratching from the covered well and opened it to find Thing,’ Mrs. F laughed with joy. ‘It seems he has been captured in the well for over 100 years and is so happy to be with us this Halloween Party,’ Mrs. F continued. ‘Thing is a member of the Addams Family, and Wednesday Addams has joined us this evening for the festivities,’ Mrs. Frankenstien said with a wink. ‘Thing has some card tricks to show us,’

‘Hello, you pitiful examples of human flotsum and jetsum,’ Wednesday said to the assembled party attendees. ‘I almost did not come for fear that this would be an example of faux fear that normies believe is scary,’ Wednesday said. ‘I knew I must be here for my dear Thing,’ Wednesday said. ‘Place your assigned mask over your head and adopt the creepy personality of the face,’ Wednesday proclaimed. ‘No one will leave here as they came,’ Wednesday promised.