“Why do you love pumpkins so much?” my husband asked me the other day as we were pulling out and putting together our wonderful assorted Halloween decorations which consist of a lot of Disney and a lot of Great Pumpkin. It took me back to my childhood, to my Dad, Pop. He was sheer sunshine and magic. He made Halloween so extra magical for me every single year of my life.

October is my most cherished month, my favorite Holiday by far. I remember them all like it was yesterday. We’d carve pumpkins, go to the schools annual Halloween fair haunted house then out to Denny’s for vanilla ice cream because we survived the haunted house with your ears still intact surprisingly due to my extreme screaming and squealing. Then off it was to Disney World to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, a tradition I have carried on with my Husband and Son. I remember running through the Magic Kingdom as Tinkerbell, I was waving my wand around as we rushed to ride Space Mountain again, for the hundredth time, as if we had never done it before. As if we never scurried about from Space Mountain to trick or treating followed by a short, cool monorail ride back to our resort, the Contemporary.

I love pumpkins so much, because not only do they bring me fond memories of the man who created the magic of Halloween for me, but they are a daily reminder that I married a man who Pop was best friends with and looked at as his own Son, a man who everyday continues to Live Like Pop, he continues on Pop’s magic. As I walk in from a long shift, to find my sweet Husband dancing with a new Mummy Mickey Mouse he bought for me and outside, all the beautiful decor complete with straw and a massive pumpkin container filled with beautiful orange Halloween flowers. A man who loved my Pop like he was his own Father for over 20 years, a man who inspired my Husband, a relationship in itself so genuine, so loving, that is also magic.

Thank you Pop for creating the spirit of Halloween for me and thank you for leading me to the perfect soul mate who carries on your magic for me. Fly high Pop, I am in good hands here.