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Halloween is almost here, and I’ve been, of course, preparing in my own way. 

By preparing, I mean watching spooky movies, reading spooky stories, and just immersing myself in the spooky vibes of the holiday, but there is another way I celebrate Halloween that surprisingly doesn’t involve anything scary, for Halloween is a time I engage not only my spooky heart but also my sweet tooth.

A love of sweets is bound to occur around this time because of associations built back when I was a kid with a full head of hair and a heart full of considerably less spooky things. And Halloween back then meant trick-or-treating, which subsequently increased my sugar intake for at least one night a year (seriously, does any kid’s candy haul from a night of trick-or-treating last more than, say, two days? I’m asking for a friend). 

Like any kid who had a bag, a mask, and a dream of eating all the candy, I had my preferences, which honestly haven’t changed that much. I wasn’t picky when it came to candy; back then, I’d eat just about anything that had chocolate. These included candies like Mounds (chocolate and coconut), M&M’s (chocolate and peanuts), and 5th Avenue (chocolate and peanut butter, which somehow tasted different from the chocolate and peanut butter combination of Butterfinger). And I still love chocolate despite being older and having much less hair on my head. And not only is Halloween a perfect time to celebrate chocolate and all its confectionary combinations, but National Chocolate Day is also on October 28th. 

Sadly, I am too old to go trick-or-treating (I’m at the age where going door to door and asking for candy is frowned upon) and my two youngest kids (both teenagers) think that trick-or-treating is either uncool or risks the possibility of being frowned upon. Luckily, thanks to having a job, I have money to buy my own candy (along with candy for trick-or-treaters, of course). Perhaps I’m too old to go through a trick-or-treat candy haul in a night, but I can still savor a few bites of chocolate, perhaps while I watch a spooky movie or conduct some spooky activity.  I can savor either a small bag of M&Ms or a larger piece of tiramisu. I can have a 5th Avenue candy bar or enjoy a chocolate and peanut butter pie. Whatever I choose will take me back to a simpler time in my life or it will allow me to savor this moment in my life, where I have a little less hair but hopefully a lot more wisdom. And the ability to watch R-rated spooky movies like “Crimson Peak” (DVD Horror CRIM). 

Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween in your own way, with or without sweets, and don’t forget about these programs this week: 

• On Thursday, October 30th, at 2 p.m., the Kentucky Picture Show presents a true classic among horror films featuring one of Universal Studios’s most infamous monsters. Transylvanian vampire Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night. Only Dr. Van Helsing and a group of like-minded individuals can stop Dracula’s reign of terror. Popcorn and snacks provided. 
• On Friday, November 1st, at 6 p.m., the library is hosting Bigfoot Adventures with Charlie Raymond. Charlie Raymond is the founder of the Kentucky Bigfoot Research Organization and a Kentucky BFRO investigator. With a degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, Charlie utilizes his knowledge of human behavior when interviewing witnesses to determine credibility, exaggeration and embellishment. Charlie has appeared on The Animal Planet, The History Channel and The BBC. Casts from Kentucky will be on display and his very successful book, Bluegrass Bigfoot: Encounters With The Kentucky Wildman will be available for signings. Space is limited; please register. 
• On Sunday, November 3rd, at 2 p.m., the library presents Sunday Crafternoon. The library provides a variety of craft supplies including paint, hot glue guns, embroidery floss, stamps and more. You provide the creativity!