Halloween Spirits

Everything is now all about Fall and Halloween.  Scarecrows, mums, gourds and pumpkins are everywhere, including truck loads traversing the State of Florida.  Late last night, as I was attempting to make my way home, Interstate 4 westbound was closed to traffic, due to a serious crash, some two hours earlier than I had arrived on the scene.  Traffic was backed up for miles, mind you,  all at one in the morning.  Florida, obviously never sleeps.   Had I known this, I would of criss-crossed Disney property, and picked up the Interstate ten miles further west.  Back to the pumpkins....as I inched my way onto the Interstate, behind a large trailer truck hauling pumpkins, thousands of them, I ended up in the dreaded  gridlock.  What else to do, think about pumpkins, Halloween and a new story for Fred's News.  My inspiration, aside from the pumpkins creeping along in front of me, was an elderly lady from Staten Island, also a full time resident of Florida, she too loves Halloween.  This wonderful, silver haired, tiny bundle of energy, is one of my Cast Members at Disney.   Last evening, because of the extremely cool but welcome air mass sitting over this southern paradise,  conversations were more numerous and personal.  Fall festivals and Halloween are on everyone's mind.  My new friend, who's name is Lucille, delighted in the story of my dear but deceased friend "Loose Wheel", the former neighbor, Fred's News confidant and regular patron of the old establishment.  Although my "new" Lucille was not born on Halloween, as was "Loose Wheel", she shares the same sparkling personality, eyes dancing with excitement and storytelling qualities as my old friend. 

As we shared memories, she told me of characters from her past, who epitomized Halloween.  Explaining the small Town of Sprague, Fred's News and the Cast of Characters, for the "new" Lucille, allowed the unusually quiet evening to quickly pass.  She delighted in the stories of the children from Sprague, decked out in their variety of Halloween disguises, parading behind the local fire truck in the annual Halloween parade.  "New" Lucille would of loved the old Grist Mill, with its pumpkins and mums, leading the way to Scott Andrew's home, totally involved in the Halloween spirit.  Always an impressive candy stop, complete with the witch's cauldron, brewing the magic potent in the front yard, beckoning all to stop, if they dared!  But the story she loved the most...a Fred's News regular..Reverend Rapid.  By his own admission, this is his time of year.  Cool weather, stories of the strange and bizarre, allows the Wiccan Priest the opportunity to don the black cape and,well, just be himself!  A former youngster in the Town, he left a number of years ago, only to return with the new and improved version..from Rusty to Reverend Rapid, he's back!  The old Grist Mill, on occasion has given him the opportunity to create some great "Haunted House" tours for the Halloween season.  A number of other civic groups have brought the Halloween "Haunted House" spirit to the Town of Sprague as well.  Some so well, people remarked.."much to real for me!"

So as I sat in traffic for two plus hours, these are the things that consumed my mind...no idol time for me.