Halloween
Yesterday was Halloween, one of those holidays that I don't know what exactly to think/do about. While growing up I never celebrated this holiday, so I never got to enjoy/partake in trick-and-treating. In college I was probably way too busy and overwhelmed with schoolwork to have done anything (I was probably too busy to even remember what I had been doing back then). The things changed radically in Grad school, when I discovered all the fun parties that grown-ups throw for the holiday (Sharmin and I met at one such party). However, now that I am pretty much done with Grad school, those things don't have the same charm any more.
One thing I've noticed, however: it seems that Halloween is getting increasingly commercialized, just like all the other holidays. I remember seeing a carved pumpkin or two before, but over the years those had been replaced by fancy plastic pumpkins of increasing size and gadgetry, plus all the skeletons the money can buy, and every other ghoulish plastic toy anyone has ever come up with. The decorations on the front yards of many houses are now on par or even exceed those put out for Christmas. It's high time that someone should campaign for the true spirit of Halloween. Let's call it 'Putting Hallow back in Halloween'.