Marylouise Cowan enjoyed a good party, big or small. The opportunity to have fun with a group of friends was hard to pass up.

Halloween is the perfect opportunity for a great time.

When we lived in the Harbor, at the top of a dead end street, our Halloween House became a hysterical launch pad for some of the most bizarre entertainment allowed this side of carrying dead fish up Playhouse Hill. We never quite knew what or who would show up.

Kevin Kiley began his magical preparations days in advance, chiseling tomb stones from blue board Styrofoam, selecting howling music to be turned on by motion detectors.

And hanging electric lights from a porch cluttered with carved pumpkins. Paul Noah would arrive with his casket (don’t ask).

Uncle Harry and Aunt Alice Gray (our much adored cross street neighbors) peeked from every window of their house horrified and delighted by the parade of characters wandering about their street.

And Mrs. Cowan landed in the middle of it all dressed as a bountiful witch sporting long blond locks greeted by yours truly, “Tex-for-a-night,” cowboy Bob.

Pee Wee would have been proud and probably charged extra by one of the local goblins. He always arrived late.

A party and good time to remember.