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By James Gardner

Clark County Public Library

Halloween will be here in just a few days. And I am excited, don’t get me wrong. Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about scary stuff. But my mind also drifts to the time after Halloween. Not just Nov. 1, All Saints Day, but that time when the holidays are in full swing. Instead of ghostly moans and mournful wails, it’s Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby crooning from the radio stations. Pumpkin spice is replaced with peppermint everything, and I’m barrelling toward Dec. 25 at 100 miles an hour.

I concede that it might be the illusion of mach-breaking speed. It could be an illusion created by all my deadlines whooshing by me (Author Douglas Adams knows what I mean). There are presents to purchase, baked goods to bake, and family to visit, meaning that I’ll be having a Holly Jolly Jetpack strapped to my back for almost two months.

Before people accuse me of being a Grinch (or even worse, a Scrooge), I’d like to stress that I do enjoy the holidays and the special magic they bring, but I’ve come to realize that such magic takes work. And like most things, when you’re an adult, it’s up to you to put in that work. As far as I know, Christmas trees don’t decorate themselves and nativity scenes don’t simply walk out of the garage and arrange themselves on the front lawn (if such things do exist, I would like to know about it).

Self-care seems to be a thing, so I’m going to take care of myself. And to do that, I must remember two things. The first is that there’s still time to enjoy the spooky goodness of Halloween, whether that’s checking out a movie or enjoying the Spooky Story Shindig on Oct. 31 and hosted by yours truly. Any time I can read some of my favorite stories about bad wishes and fearsome felines is a good time. The second thing is that the scares don’t have to stop on Nov. 1. The scary books and movies that we have can be checked out all year round. We also have some holiday horrors like the collection “Halldark Holidays” (Fantastic F Hall) and “N0S4A2” (Fantastic F Hill). The holidays can be frenzied, but they can still be fun and even delightfully frightening. I just have to remember that I can sometimes remove the Holly Jolly Jetpack, relax with a pumpkin or peppermint-flavored drink, and read whatever I want.

And here are some programs to ease you into the holiday season:

This week has a double helping of Adult Storytime. on Oct. 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Adult Storytime will be presenting our Spooky Story Shindig with some classic spooky stories. Sit, enjoy some Halloween candy, have some fun, and listen to some spooky tales that might raise your hackles. Feel free to bring your favorite spooky short story to read and share with others. Just remember to leave some of the happiness you bring.

Don’t forget our regular Adult Storytime, meeting Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sit, enjoy some snacks, have some fun, and listen to some classic and contemporary stories being read aloud. Take time to relax and listen to some great stories before the holiday season kicks off.

On Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m., the Kentucky Picture Show will feature Chris O’Donnell and Minnie Driver as students meeting at university in 1950s Dublin. Awkward Benny (Driver) is introduced to handsome Jack (O’Donnell), the son of a doctor who is unsure about following the family business. While Benny and Jack fall in love, Benny’s old friend Nan (Saffron Burrows) is less fortunate. All three must grapple with conflicts between their physical desires and religious upbringings. Rated PG-13. Popcorn and snacks provided.