There’s something about the last week of October that feels a little enchanted. The mornings are cooler, the air smells like leaves and chimney smoke, and the evenings come a little earlier each day. It’s the season of porch lights glowing warmly in the dusk and pumpkins sitting proudly by the front steps.

Halloween week has a way of stirring up old memories. I remember being a kid, waiting for the sun to go down just enough to start trick-or-treating, trying to walk fast but not look like I was rushing. I remember the feel of a costume that never quite fit right, the sound of leaves crunching under small feet on sidewalks, the glow of jack-o’-lantern faces flickering in the dark.

Now, the season looks a little different. I’m not out there carrying a candy bag anymore—but I still love the way the neighborhood lights up. I love seeing kids full of excitement, parents laughing, neighbors leaning in doorways to say hello. There’s a simple sweetness in it. A sense of community. Of shared delight.

This week, I’ll sip my coffee a little slower in the morning. I’ll look out the window at the leaves still hanging on and the ones fluttering down. I’ll take in the small joys that are easy to miss if we’re rushing through.

Because Halloween may be one night, but its spirit — that cozy, glowing, softly magical feeling — lasts all week. 🍂🎃☕