This year Halloween will have a full moon. It should also have full bellies-- full of candy. Just like all years. Instead of having trick or treaters come to the door and ring the bell, my neighbors and I have decided we're going to set up tables and chairs outside and give away candy outside near the curb. I keep seeing people on the net saying Halloween is canceled, but plenty of other events are happening outdoors and Halloween is an important community ritual. Plus wearing masks is part of the tradition! There's no reason it can't be done safely. Keep it outside, keep groups apart from other groups, and it's no different from any other outdoor event.

I'm not going to be personally putting candy into the kids' sacks this year, I'm going to let him help themselves from the bowl. I'm just going to be out there to be sure one kid doesn't take it all, just like my neighbors will be doing. This is going to be a no contact event for me and Halloween still goes on.

In other news:

This weekend, Saturday October 24th, is my booksigning at Fantasia Crystals in Phoenix, Arizona. This will also be an outdoor event. It's from 5pm-6:30pm which means it's going to be getting dark towards the end; the time was chosen so that the reading room inside would be available as a backup in case of rain.

Oct. 29th I'll be on Ghostman Radio. Watch my social media for links to listen to the show.

Image: cloth mask made of pumpkin print fabric and black shoelaces, mask and photo both by Erin Lale.