Two totally different experiences of the Halloween holiday, both fun in their own way; showcasing life in a condo versus life in a neighborhood. Diamond Beach is my condo home, and I do love the sunrises over the gulf, the down-the-hall neighbors so willing to help, and the special gatherings in the Theater Room. Decorating the front door in the hallway is important to me, because it adds charm to Diamond Beach as locals and renters alike saunter up the hall. This year our Monte McMillan turned 18, and we had a special celebration in the Theater Room, watching “The Little Shop of Horrors”. So appropriate for the season. My contribution was a bag of “ghost hands” filled with candy. The kids never get to old for candy:)

Moving on to Golden, just in time to share the celebration with the grandbabies. This was Hanna’s first Halloween, and Bo’s first time to really enjoy the celebration. Hanna went as a tutu-wearing pumpkin, Bo was a lobster, and grandpuppies Fritz and Frankie were crabs:) Of course, I thought they were the cutests in the “hood”, but as you can see imagination ran wild this year in Golden. We set out tables of candy on the sidewalk, as a precautionary step to prevent COVID, and all candy was store-bought, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the day. Matt barbecued a brisket for any who stopped by. The heated garage was a popular spot as the night grew colder. Surprisingly, the local adults outdid the kids this year. Everyone has been feeling a bit of cabin fever the last few months, so it felt good to dress up and visit with each other (trying to keep a six-foot distance:) Some of my favs were The Alien Capture, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Luke Skywalker, Skeleton Man, Squid Girl, and last but not least Apeman. As we began to close the garage doors for the evening, a tricked-out Hummer truck cruised by filled with candy-hungry party goers. It was just the best Halloween ever, and did we ever need it!