One of the advantages of moving to the area from which your family has lived for more than a hundred years is that you get to visit in person as well as in spirit. Halloween is like Christmas Eve, only it is the night before All Saints’ Day, which is followed by All Souls’ Day. These are the days when those who have died come back to visit and be remembered. Irene was so afraid we would forget her. Even Lilith got to tell stories of her Summa this year. Her Summa’s red hair, having fingernails painted, watching kid shows on TV. Endless snacks.

Irene now has her own headstone. We brought photos and food and family. It is a tradition from my Mexican ancestors, but having picnics with the dearly departed also used to be a Midwestern tradition. Except it was honored on Memorial Day, which was for all the dead and not only veterans. It would make more sense to picnic in May around here. Who said we must operate on good sense?

The Grand Guy is walking, but I think he just likes to roll around in the grass.

Michael made everyone’s favorite cookies: oatmeal, chocolate chip, molasses. The last from a recipe his grandma used and was gifted us by Harriette.

Petra wandered about, eating the cookies and drinking the drinks left for the dead. I believe they were delighted to share with her.

We visited three cemeteries. The first was the Veterans Cemetery, to be with Summa and Bucka. Then to Grantsburg, to see Harriette and Klink. Harriette is Clyde’s older sister, and she and Klink became secondary grandparents to our children. We spent many Thanksgivings and Christmases with them. It is good still to spend this one holiday with them each year. The last graveyard is three miles from our home, and is where Michael’s great grandparents, grand parents, uncles and aunts, friends and extended family are buried. We make a special visit to see Cleone (Nonie) and Ralph, who took Michael and his brothers fishing and were always the “cool” aunt and uncle. We hope to be buried next to Cleone and Ralph. We came back to the house and had beans and tortillas, in memory of my father and his parents, and then apple pie for my mom’s folks.

Usually we freeze on our rounds of visits. This year we wore sunglasses and T shirts. Now the wind howls and tears at the last leaves with sharp teeth.

We ate the last of summer’s tomatoes. We will keep eating cabbage and root vegetables until January or so. Potatoes will last until springtime, when dandelion greens become our first harvest. It is a time to contemplate death, to remember those who have gone before, cherish their memories, create new memories in those who will come after. And it is good to have a reason to eat cookies!