It is that time again, folks. October 31 is rapidly approaching (seems like we were just ringing in the new year yesterday). Halloween has always had a special place in my heart. So many great memories from my childhood flood my brain as I am typing this. My earliest costumes that I dressed up in when I was young included, over the years, Bart Simpson, Hulk Hogan, a clown and a football player. Growing up in Patterson, we used to walk the Downtown Circle in our costumes in elementary school. It was an annual parade and I looked forward to it each year. My mom used to go and watch us and after it was over I used to come home (early from school) and help make cupcakes with her. She made every holiday special but Halloween was “our” day. Once I got past the age of the parade (it would run kindergarten through third grade) my mom used to let me stay home on Halloween so I could spend the day with her and get stuff ready for later that night.

We would make cupcakes, cookies, play games, get the candy bowls ready for trick-or-treaters, and watch Halloween specials that were on television. Some of my favorite specials included Disney’s DTV Monster Hits!, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Garfield and more.

When I was in the fifth grade, my brother Tony took me out trick-or-treating. We lived in the country and drove into town and walked almost the entire town. I did not have a bag or pillowcase; I used a five-gallon bucket. Hours and miles later, that bucket was full and we headed home.

My last time going out trick-or-treating was in 1998. I was in the seventh grade and my friends and I wanted to go out. My brother Shawn came along with us. The evening started off great. However, it took a turn around 9 p.m. when a high schooler jumped out of the bushes and pushed my brother (who is older, by the way) down on the curb. My friends and I ran off in different directions and left Shawn to fend for himself. When the dust settled, I went back for Shawn at the scene of the crime. I did not see Shawn at first; just his mask. I then looked toward the bush where the attacker leaped from and I saw Shawn’s feet kicking back and forth like a cartoon. He was in the bush and my friends and I pulled him out. He was devastated and frightened but my friends and I laughed hysterically once we realized he was okay. When we got home my dad was sitting in the living room watching television. He asked why Shawn was crying and made him cry even more. My dad said “I can not understand you when you’re crying; go see your mother.” This made me laugh even harder and made this a core memory that us Cruz boys bring up every October.

Now that I am a father of two, I look forward to this holiday for other reasons. I can now take my boys out trick-or-treating, go to the pumpkin patches, make desserts, help them with their costumes and watch television specials and scary movies with them. My oldest son enjoys this time of year the most. He enjoys going to the Spirit Halloween store and wishes it was open year-round.

Dennis D. Cruz is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. He may be reached at drcruz@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.