Being a Kid at Heart

Meet John – The Magic of Being a Kid at Heart

I remember as a kid being just as excited on Halloween Eve as on Christmas Eve. The anticipated fun of going door to door in my hand-picked costume was accompanied by the sheer joy of knowing that I could stay up a bit late even if it was a school night eating my favourite candy before bedtime. That was enough of a treat! Add in the excitement of seeing all the decorations and you got some amazing memories.

I recently had a chat with a local fella in Westville who is making memories and celebrating the magic of being a kid…or, feeling like a kid again. John has an incredible Halloween display at his home so the first thing I asked was, “Why do you do it” he laughed, “I know it sounds cheesy but honestly, I do it for the children, and everybody's reaction to it all. I love all the feedback I receive and positivity from the community.”

I smiled, “You must have loved Halloween as a child, did you?” He quickly replied, “Absolutely! The neighborhood in Westville where I grew up (Spring Garden area) was notorious for Halloween, everybody went all out!” he continued, “There was even a haunted trail on Spring Garden Road which is one of my biggest inspirations!” My eyes grew wide, “Wow! even a haunted trail. That must have been something else.” He replied, “It sure was. I really used to enjoy this particular house that had everything! Freddy Krueger standing by the door, Micheal Myers in the yard, spooky music and sounds playing.” I grinned, “Sounds like a cherished Halloween memory.” He smiled softly, “It sure is. I am trying to recreate some of that magic with my display.”

We continued chatting where I learned that John’s favourite Halloween candy is fuzzy peaches, he’s a really huge fan of Night of The Living Dead and classic universal monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein, and that he had a very special helper building the Halloween display. “I have a 2 year old son Benjamin who is in love with all of it (except the werewolf) and is a very good helper! He helped paint a lot of things in my attraction and loves to run around and set off the sensors!” We both laughed. “That must be adorable to see,” I commented. His eyes lit up, “It really is. He is my pride and joy.” I smiled, “Who knows, maybe he will continue the tradition when he grows up.” John smiled widely, “I would love that.”

I left our conversation feeling like you are never too old to have fun. I recently came across this quote which sums it up perfectly, “Don’t let Halloween be a thing of the past. Decorate, turn on your porchlight, give out candy and have fun! Make memories and celebrate the magic of being a kid.”