Halloween

Next to fireworks, I think Nathan thought Halloween was more fun than any other thing. He used to love to go to the party, turned Halloween stores every year and add something silly, scary or mysterious to his big Halloween display. He had big figurines and pretend smoke and all sorts of scary noises to spook the little ones. It was really most elaborate. But best of all I think he liked his big rubber head mask of Freddy Kruger or Michael Myers or some one of those characters. He could really get the kids going with that one.

A couple years ago when I went to visit Lisa and family, it happened to be in the early Fall of the year and they made one of their many trips to the copious Halloween stores in their area. I had never been in one, I didn't even know such a thing existed, so I joined them and it was really quite amazing.

This year, I decided to visit one of the stores up this way in memory of my buddy. There were all kinds of things he would have liked. Things that made noise and others that blew smoke. I spent a bit of time looking through all the offerings and after deciding there just wasn't anything I couldn't do without I walked around the perimeter of the store and out along the front windows. Stocked there were helium kits for blowing up balloons. Some of you know why that's significant, but out of respect for my daughter I don't care to go into it any deeper.

Initially I froze and then I was sickened and left the store immediately. Will these things always affect me this way? My stomach is still a little queasy today, and I miss him more than ever. I love you Nathan Daniel Conner. I just wish I could have fixed your hurts.