My birthday is 5 days before Halloween. Other than “that explains a lot, Susan” it also means that, as a kid growing up, one of my birthday presents was always my Halloween costume. Even at a young age, I knew that was a bit of a cop-out-rip-off birthday present, but I also knew that money was tight. I was so happy to be getting a costume. It also meant that every birthday was also a tiny costume party of one, starring Me. Now, for a kid who basked in the spotlight, this guaranteed audience of ooo’s and aaah’s was the best present ever.

So, my favorite Halloween costume? I honestly don’t recall. Well, I vaguely remember a Wonder Woman outfit. But regardless, I’m sure it was one of those off-the-rack, highly flammable, ties-in-the-back and comes with the plastic mask with eye holes and that thin elastic string thing. And the accompanying adoring fans. And cake. My imagination supplied the golden lasso.

Sheer bliss occurred if my birthday also happened to fall on a Saturday. In the small California town where I grew up, post Saturday morning cartoons were followed by “Creature Feature” afternoons. I could sit in my costume and watch Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney and – oh, who was the guy who always played Van Helsing…. Peter Cushing! Talk about formative.

Flash forward to today. I’m still the same little kid reveling in all day feasts of ghost stories only the costume I’m wearing now if my laptop and Creature Feature is now called Haunt Spots. One thing hasn’t changed in all these years. I’m still grinning from ear-to-ear.

Oh yes, and my costume now? Some days, like today, it’s a robe and pj’s because I jumped out of bed, booted up and started typing. Which means I’m dressed up like a home-based business person. And grinning from ear-to-ear.