Well North Penn, who are you going to call? Ghost Busters can’t help you out with costume ideas if you haven’t read last week’s edition of Kate’s Korner. But it’s time for me to address the Skeleton in the Closet: what about the rest of Halloween? Surely there is more to this holiday than the costumes, and believe me, I haven’t forgotten. It’s the Time of Season for Witchcraft and Strange Days, Superstition and Vampires, Mummies, and the Holy Ghost. Somehow, past a certain age, Halloween loses its appeal among the masses. Suddenly it becomes just another day, but this time you’re expected to sugar up the pesky neighbor kids when you and their dentists both know it won’t end well for anyone.

Don’t let yourself become the Halloween Scrooge! Who cares that it had a happy ending? The only ghosts you’re likely to meet on October 31 will be demanding candy, not the reformation of your miserly old soul. The least you could do is put on a mask and use your natural irritability to scare away the potential trick-or-treaters. For those that wish to walk around like Lucretia MacEvil, I can’t stop you. What I can do is help you remember what makes Halloween so great, even when you’ve outgrown the princesses and pirates.

The fun doesn’t even have to start on Halloween. October 30 is mischief night, which my younger sister so helpfully and sinisterly marked on my calendar. (She’s ten; I’m worried for what she has planned.) For years my dad has dutifully put our pumpkins in the garage to spare them from the wrath of teenagers who just couldn’t come up with real plans for Halloween. Now here we are, teenagers ourselves, and the Eve of Destruction is nigh. While I would love to give you all some helpful hints for successful vandalism, you’ll have to manage your mischief without me. We can’t have anyone believing I encourage such felonious activities. (Eggsandtoiletpapergoonsaletomorrow, but you didn’t hear it from me…)

As for the rest of us who plan on going out Halloween night, there’s a few important thing to keep in mind. No matter what Google says, I think we all know there’s a certain age when you should probably just leave the pillowcase on your pillow and pretend to brave scary movies on Netflix. The fact of the matter is if your costume is lame or you’re over 20, I guarantee you’ll be picking one piece of candy out of the licorice jar, and that’s no way to spend a holiday of this magnitude. However, if you’re worried about all those youngins out there in the dark, remember to give them a flashlight as you send them on their way. And glow sticks. Lots of glow sticks. Wrap them in reflector tape while you’re at it because you can never be too sure what might be caught in the Moonshadow. Better yet, swap out those fake weapons for real ones! It’s not so easy to steal candy from babies when they’re wielding actual nun chucks.

Halloween also falls on a Saturday this year, which means the odds of a Halloween party are likely to be in your favor. (Just because you braid your hair and wear black does not make you Katniss Everdeen. Not even on Halloween.) Find yourself a decent Mashing of Monsters and bust a move or two with your friends. **

**A quick step by step instruction for the Time Warp:
1. It’s just a jump to the left. No, really.
2. And a step to the riiiiiiiight. But drawn out like someone just danced on your little toe and you need to get away from him.
3. Put your hands on your hips. Monsters like a little sass.
4. Bring your knees in tight. Like you’ve been out all night collecting candy dressed like a mummy – nature calls eventually.
5. The pelvic thrust supposedly drives you insane; interpret as you will, North Penn. This one is all on you.

While your night may not be straight out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and you might be grateful for that turn of events as I still don’t understand the ending, you’re still entitled to have some ghoulish fun. It’s not like there’s school the next day, North Penn. Freak out until the sun’s out, but always Keep Your Monster on a Leash.