As the holiday excitement builds, I recall fond memories of childhood Halloweens spent in Geneva. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, I returned to my hometown and put my advertising degree to work as a marketing coordinator at the Geneva Park District. In this position, I can’t help but feel nostalgic as I work on upcoming Halloween events.

As candy begins to line the shelves of grocery stores, my anticipation of the holiday rises just as it did years ago. I remembered the urge to find the perfect costume, satisfying my innate flair for fashion and challenging my mother’s creative limits.

Following one October’s obsession with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” my mom crafted a homemade Ariel costume. When I finally donned my costume for trick-or-treating, I discovered the hard mermaid truth – my fin prevented me from walking on land. That night, my devoted dad carried his little mermaid around the neighborhood to gather treats and sweets. But his valiant gesture had ulterior motives; I always gave him acquired Snickers, his favorite candy bar.