I've been feeling rather nostalgic lately.  Like it's time to re-evaluate, figure out what's really important and clean out all the "stuff" in life that doesn't really matter.  I think often we get so caught up in petty problems that it's hard to see clearly and take stock and focus on what really is good in life.  Is there anything sweeter that a tiny whisper in the night "Mama, can I sleep in your bed tonight?" Perhaps a nine year old boy who gets his hockey gear ready for the season in July, or a six year old who confesses that he loves music and his guitar teacher "the bestest of all his friends"

I just read a book where a mother whose two year old daughter was just diagnosed with cancer and she said  "I had only known her for two years.  But if you took every memory, every moment and stretched them end to end, they'd reach forever" 

What are the moments we remember as we get older?  What are the moments our children will remember?  Perhaps an impromptu camping trip with a grandfather, or being allowed to pack up a couple rootbeers and head over to play music with a favorite friend until way past bedtime.  Who knows where we'll be in six months, or a year or even a couple days?  I think that it's our memories of the great moments in life that help carry us through the tough ones.

My intentions for this year's haunt are exactly that.  To make some great memories with family and friends.  And working hard while having fun and doing something great for families in crisis.  I recently attended a fundraiser for someone in our town who became critically ill after childbirth and was hospitalized in Vancouver.  One of her friends stood up and spoke about how overwhelmed they were by the crowd turnout and that Campbell River was a community who would "lift her up and bring her home again"  I was struck by the words, because I've seen it time and time again with my work for Cameryn's Cause.  This is a great community, one where we come together and support each other.  I see it at every single Cameryn's Cause event.  Those are some of my best memories.  It warms my heart to think of all of you who come out and volunteer, or donate or come down and support the haunt.  I've seen how it makes a difference to families in our community.  If one of the by-products of it all is that our kids get to learn that helping others can come in the form or great fun, then that's not such a bad thing either.

I thank each and every one of you who have already jumped on board to help out this year.   It seems a little crazy to be starting Halloween preparations in July, but if you know me, you know that's how it is every year around here.   I look forward to your ideas, your encouragement and your excitement when it all starts to come together.  Most of all I look forward to making some wonderful memories with you all.

P.S.  Keep in touch with your ideas, and if you haven't done so, sign up to volunteer on the volunteer page so you can have your pick of jobs!

Well, it's down to the wire.  One week to go.  I feel like I should be running around in a panic.  The mood here is strangely calm though.  Everything is organized.  There's not a ton to do until set up.  A bit of photcopying, a few things to purchase and a couple more ghouls to build.  Everything seems to be rolling along perfectly.

I had a nice weekend in Vancouver with my parents.  We bought my dad tickets to see Kris kristofferson for Father's Day and the concert was last Friday night.  We had a great time despite the calamity of errors we went through to actually arrive at the theatre.  Forgotten tickets, missed ferries, late ferries and some family drama.  I'm glad we made it though as it turns out Mr. Kristofferson was staying in the room across the hall from us and I met him in the hallway.  It's odd to stand talking to a man whose music is playing in the background of most of your childhood memories.  Funny how things work out sometimes.

If everything keeps going this well until the haunt, then it should be smooth sailing. Thanks again to all the volunteers.  I needed 31 and I now have 36.  I've never met people so generous with their time.  Thanks as well to my neighbours, the Poustie Family and my mother in law, Sandy who have opened their yards and hearts to the haunt and to Cameryn's Cause.  It's because they let us add their property to the haunt that we were able to expand it as greatly as we have.

 I'm not sure that I'll post again until after the haunt.  Wish me and the haunt crew luck!  See you all on the 24th and 25th!

For now I'll leave you with a photo of a certain 74 year old handsome devil.

Our volunteer meeting last night was VERY successful.  We filled 26 of the 30 spaces we need filled!  Thanks so much to all of you who came out signed up.

My friend Carolin came by last week and built one of her famous ghouls.  She came in like a whirlwind, scissored, painted and glued.  One seriously maimed mannequin head later...she was gone.  The result, another hideous thing for our haunted forest.  What a nice, unexpected surprise!  Thanks Carolin.

 My thanks again to all of you so far who have come out and given your time to help pull this crazy thing off.  It doesn't matter if you can spare one hour or twenty.  Every bit helps and every bit makes a difference to the success of the haunt.  Also, thanks to the people who have donated items and funds so far to get this event up and running.  Every penny is appreciated!

 Happy Haunting!

P.S.  Please sign the guestbook (on the homepage).  It's always nice to know who's stopped by!

Carolin and a couple of her "GHOULFRIENDS"

Some one asked me today..."Why do you like Hallowen so much?  What's up with that?"  I had to think about it.  I have always loved Halloween.  As a child, getting to get dressed up while running amok in the neighborhood and actually being allowed to take candy from strangers!  What's not to love?  Homemade ghosts made of bedsheets.  The smell of firecrackers and candlelit pumpkins in the air takes me back to a time when trick or treaters lined the sidewalks on Halloween night and it wasn't unusual to have 200 or more ghosts and goblins knocking on the door looking for candy. 

It's different now.  Kids don't get to run wild on Halloween night.   In fact, we're lucky to have a dozen trick or treaters.  Costumes are all purchased at Walmart.  Kids are restricted in their school activities for fear of offending another's beliefs.  You can't give out home made treats and you now have to have a permit to let off fireworks in your yard.  Plain and simple......"It just ain't what it used to be"

I suppose a large part of my love for Halloween is just me clinging to those childhood memories.  Hot dogs and hot chocolate for dinner on Halloween night.  Me, dressed as a witch eight years in a row.  Sherry, the lady up the road who used to give out full sized chocolate bars and pop.  My dad, lighting off fireworks dangerously close to the power lines and then raiding our candy stash before bed.  All these silly little things, add up to some of the most memorable times of my childhood.

My love for Halloween and all those memories are what inspired me to start our yard haunt.  It's a place where kids can go, get spooked and stuff themselves full of hot dogs and hot chocolate.  A safe place with of the smell of candlelit pumpkins and where kids can be kids...or ghosts or witches. 

It's also a time when new memories are created.  Ones of my kids and I staying up late to create ghouls and spooks to scare the visitors.  Of, my dad, proudly building our ghost.  Our delight in seeing her "float".   The girls, freezing their butts off to sell a few hotdogs.  It's a time when my family, friends and I can work hard,  be silly and immature and know that in the end our efforts will not only be a blast for the kids, but also help out families in need. 

And last but not least, my wish is that  perhaps when the children who visit the haunt are grown up, they will fondly remember and tell their own children about "that crazy lady on Holm road who had the cool haunt for us when we were kids."  If that's the biggest thing I'm ever known for, I'm okay with that.

Please visit our haunt site and sign our guestbook.  If you live nearby, feel free to visit our haunt this Halloween season.  Admission is by donation to "Cameryn's Cause for Kids Society"

www.barnesboneyardhaunt.com