Monthly Archives: October 2022

The spooky and spirited thrillings of Halloween

“It’s as much fun to scare as to be scared.” – Vincent Price.

With much truth in that shining quote, there is more to appreciate in leading up to this day of All Hallow’s Eve. This spookiest day built itself heavily from a Celtic pagan festival, to a preparation on the eve of All Saint’s Day for Catholics, an eventual connecting to All Soul’s Day started by Christian missionaries, then the heavily commercialized push from capitalizing retailers. There is much more history behind every Halloween with it’s many traditions involving wacky costumes, carving pumpkins, and devouring excessive sugary treats.

Halloween is all in good fun, though how much one puts into it is an individual taste. One’s dedication to entertain others through extravagant appearance of one’s self and surrounding to get at least a chuckle, and perhaps a little spooky vibe, says much on how wonderful a beating heart can be. To share in a scare, to delight in disguise, to celebrate a little darkness in each other by making light over much of it, can be healthy for the gloomy days ahead.

So that being said, I hope all have a safe and thrilling Halloween, no matter how we each take part in (or ignore) it.

– Orion T

The picture above was from somewhere near Volunteer Park in Seattle, last Halloween in 2021. In that area was, and probably there again this year, some truly spooktacular displays upon some beautiful vintage houses. I may check that area out again this year, if time and weather allow.

Here is a few pics of that fun night..

The fragments we treasure, held together in sandstone and dirt

You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present, but the future will never taint me. What am I?

History

And, where am I?

Everywhere

That’s where one may find bits and pieces of the past, with stories we leave behind wherever in whatever. But my favorite found is in the dirt and rocks, because they reveal much in story. Sometimes in plain sight on site, uncovered and waiting to be be seen.

That all brings me back to one my favorite places visited multiple times through my summer adventures in San Diego of southern California, just south of the Ocean Beach Pier. There is this rough, rocky area stretching far among the tide pools, not easily accessible. Just walk south of the long pier during the low tide, over what initial may look like a closed off area, and watch your step. Then tread across some much more stable ground, but still be careful…

Then comes my favorite parts, the stories the ground tell there. There are markings etched in the sandstone that tell partly of memories and sentiments. They tell of marriage proposals, memorials to lost loved ones, bindings of friendships, and many other moments that may be insignificant to many, but important enough to leave carved for the many to still notice. Also, there are curious bits of man-made remains of what I guess belong to aged structures, parts of things, many curiosities that bring about imagination. There’s definitely deep history there.

Then, there is nature itself, shaped and defiant to the high cliffs and made-made sea walls. The ever-crashing ocean waves reshaping the land slowly, choosing what to preserve and taken away. Look closer, and you will observe tiny little crabs in the little pools and crevices, sharing in their own little stories of preservation and striving in crazy times of changing climates.

These markings and shapings are all wonderful little story fragments, that I left behind but keep treasured together.

– Orion T