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Halloween #TBT

I know "time flies" is a cliche, but it's exactly what I'm feeling. I was going to write about last year's Halloween, but then I remembered the Halloween on my mind actually happened two years ago! I'm too young for time to go by so fast. Yet it does. 

Our Titania and Bottom costumes
Today I find myself reminiscing about the Halloween when Ryan came to visit me in West Virginia, and we made the drive to the gorgeous, sprawling Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston. (Click the link for pictures and more information.) I had heard about this place for years as a paranormal investigator, not fully realizing it was so close to where I lived in the Mountain State. 

It's one of those huge Gothic structures that dominates the landscape. The town of Weston itself needs some tender loving care. Although it is making progress, plenty of the buildings and homes are "blighted." But then you turn a corner and this magnificent former asylum stretches out behind the main street. 

We took a ghost tour there completely in the dark except for the light of our flashlights. It was unlike any ghost tour I'd experienced because after telling the stories, the guide let everyone explore on their own.  After that, we made our way down to the BYOB Halloween party, where we drank Mothman black IPA beer, people watched and listened to a live rock band. 

"Robert Smith" at the asylum party
It was a great night, barring the fact that when we got back to the house, I found out my drunk roommates and friends accidentally let my cat out of the house into the cold, windy evening. "Cold and windy" is putting it lightly. The wind howled like banshees, and it was so cold we weren't sure the cat would survive if she didn't take shelter. I called for her and looked everywhere before finally going to sleep. In the morning, the mayor of my town drove around looking for her. I ended up finding her hiding underneath the porch. She was so frightened that the only sound she could make was the tiniest squeak. 

Now I'm living back in Georgia. It was recently 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the leaves are still green. I'm working the ghost tours for fun this year, even though I work full time. I'm still planning how I'd like to enjoy this Halloween season. Last night we relaxed during a dark and stormy evening, courtesy of Hurricane Michael. I lit a pumpkin candle, and we ate dinner while watching the very beginning of the vampire movie Byzantium. Our wi-fi kept resetting because of disturbances on the power line, so we couldn't finish it.

Fall colors in Canaan Valley, WV.
I wish you all many spooky blessings this season. And remember, be careful out there. You never know what you might find when you venture out into the night. (This is where I wink.)

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