I heard a Christmas carol on the radio this week – and for reference, it was 90 degrees at the time and I’ve barely finished eating our Labor Day leftovers. It’s just too early to usher in Christmas. It’s probably a sign of age, but the older I get, the more I want to enjoy each day and season for what it is – taking the time to absorb events and letting the memories build. Why should we always be racing past what’s happening now to get to the next best thing?
And in that spirit – it’s almost time for us to gorge ourselves on Halloween candy. Halloween is the gift that keeps on giving, because the candy glut can last until Santa fills my stocking. Since you never know when you’ll be totally overrun with adorably costumed rug rats, buying a whole cartload of confections is really the only sensible course of action … and choosing the varieties you like ensures that any leftovers don’t end up with the reject pile, in candy corn purgatory.
Put that way, it seems so very reasonable, right?
In honor of the spookiest month, contributors Mark Beutler and Jeff Provine have delved into Oklahoma’s checkered past and present, investigating paranormal locations and activity in the metro. From Guthrie’s haunted history to Norman’s campus lore and beyond, they explore some of our favorite eerie locations. If you’ve ever wondered about that prickling feeling you get on the back of your neck in a certain building, it could be because there is a story of misfortune associated with it. Our young state actually has quite a rich trove of macabre legends, and it was fun to pull them together for a deliciously creepy Halloween story.
In the name of research, Mark even accompanied ghost hunters from the local group Midnight Paranormal on an investigation to a reputedly ghostly speakeasy turned restaurant – an adventure that kept him up way past his bedtime. We thank him for sacrificing his sleep for us … on that night, and probably many subsequent ones after his mysterious experiences there. Check it out beginning on page 40.
In the interest of planning ahead (but not rushing past the present, of course), Sean Becker has put together a primer on getting involved in local philanthropic pursuits. It seems Thanksgiving and Christmas always bring to mind the many blessings we routinely enjoy and that encourages us to reach out to those less fortunate than ourselves to share the wealth. While performing acts of service is a year-round endeavor, the best time to get involved with a nonprofit is always “now.” Read how to find one that matches your interests on page 48, and enjoy the experience!
