All Hallows' Even.

The past five days went by in a flash. Wonderful days when everything in my world was just right. The house is empty now, devoid of the scents and sounds that make me so happy. Gone is the strong, pleasing voice that would call my name, like no one else can, and sing "Galway Girl" to me...

But, Batcat is right here next to me, purring loudly, waiting for me to set the fire. Watching him brings peace to my senses at all times, as his presence keeps certain things in life constant. His curiosity is astounding and the way he is able to relax highly contagious.
Every time I do something out of the ordinary he is ever so present inspecting and investigating. In the same spirit, he was assisting me recently when I was carving this years Jack-o'-lantern. I love carving pumpkins for Halloween. Over the years I have created quiet a few scary heads and they have never been the same.
Halloween is one of my absolutely favorite celebrations. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. The festival was unknown to me as a child, but we did observe All Saints Day on the 1st of November. This was a much more solemn celebration, when we would remember family members that have passed on, by visiting their graves, lighting candles. It held a certain tranquility and sadness. I recall the long walks after the onset of darkness in the autumn cemeteries, where hundreds of candles would flicker, bringing the realms of the living and the dead in close proximity.

My first acquaintance with Hallows' Even came while living in North Carolina and very quickly I became fond of the sentiment behind it. The celebrations were non existent in Scandinavia just a couple of decades ago. Over the last few years, the Celtic festival has found its way into the cold north and as soon as the darkness settles over us tonight, many doorways will be guarded by a plethora of Jack-o'-lanterns.
Happy Halloween everyone.