Welcome to the October blog post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Around here, Summer is reluctant to move on, although Autumn is doing her best to show her out the door.
If you’re Canadian like me, October brings two things to mind. The first is Thanksgiving, this year to be celebrated on October 14, the latest date it can possibly be since it’s officially celebrated on the second Monday of October. I start decorating with pumpkins, and colored leaves, with the odd friendly scarecrow, but nothing spooky. The family will get together for a special meal–this year it’ll be Chinese takeout so that I get to enjoy the day, too, instead of spending in cooking and cleaning like I have in the past.
After Thanksgiving, it’s time for Halloween. I’ll get one of my grandchildren to carve a pumpkin for me, and, on Halloween night, I’ll shell out just as I have for the last 53 years, ever since we’ve been married. We’ll sit outside under the heater lamp with a beer or two and admire the kids as they come to collect their treats. Most of the kids we see don’t live in our area, but we are a safe neighborhood, so parents bring them here. I don’t mind. It’s all about the kids. Most of them are accompanied by parents now, a big difference from when I was young or even when my own children were 8 and up, but this isn’t the world I grew up in, not that I want to go back to those times. I’ve grown far too fond of my independence and rights as a woman to ever voluntarily give them up.
October 2 question – Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What’s your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.
Despite the current trend to have the bejesus scared out of you, I do not like to be frightened, so my favorite ghost tales amuse me rather than scare me. Think Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Blackbeard’s Ghost. I write paranormal stories about past life experiences, some with a little more shock and awe than others, but most of my ghosts are benevolent. Now, unseelies, those nasty black fairies, are another story.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers and Happy Halloween to all who celebrate.
Read more answers here: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
See you in November!
Living the Dream 
I like “Ghostbusters”, too 🙂 Yeah, best to steer clear of the Unseelie, especially this time of year…
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Adventures in Audio: Recording and Publishing Audiobooks
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I like your choices of ghost stories. They’re more fun than scary. And I like your idea of Chinese takeout for Thanksgiving. Have a great celebration.
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Thanks. Eventually, one becomes smart enough to know what’s best for her.
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I like that description–amuse you. I too don’t like being frightened, but laughing is OK. Good description.
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Ghost stories that are entertaining and not damaging to the soul are my kind of stories!
As for other scary stories: My fav spooky tales are chicken-skin tales about urban stories of night marchers, and of Madame Pele, the volcano goddess, who appeared along the roadside when people were in need.
https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
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Interesting. I’ll have to look up Hawaiian ghost stories.
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Our neighborhood used to be like that. People would come and drop off their kids. But we haven’t had any kids for at least ten years.
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Demographics change for a number of reasons I guess. We have a number of new families in the neighborhood as our older neighbors pass on or move on. That will bring more kids to the door in years to come.
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Thank you for reminding me about those ‘cozy’ ghost stories, enjoyable without freaking out the audience! I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to this month’s question as I probably respond to ‘real’ ghost stories with something close to PTSD. We don’t get many kids at all, as we’ve downsized to an apartment, but we’re celebrating 50 years together, and I appreciated that picture you created of a truly lovely Halloween, celebrating family and community!
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These days, the news is more frightening than any ghost story. Thabnks for stopping by.
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