This past January, I set a New Year's Resolution of adopting an exercise program. What set my resolution apart from most is that it had an exciting twist. I wanted to get fit so that I could enjoy a romantic beach vacation with my partner. Last autumn, my long-time boyfriend and I booked a two week getaway to an elegant resort in the Dominican Republic. After achieving success in both of our careers, my partner and I became first time home owners. Unfortunately, the combination of household duties, full time work and overtime work began to put a strain on our relationship. We realized we no longer had a work-life balance. Our seemingly opposite schedules left no time for family, friends or each other. After multiple heart-to-heart conversations, we prioritized this holiday out of a need for rest and recommitment to shared values.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak began, families remain concerned about the health and well-being of their loved ones. Due to the economic implications of the pandemic, many families are also feeling the financial crunch. Not wanting to deprive children of the traditional Halloween experience, most parents are opting for a safe, affordable Halloween. When it comes to celebrating Halloween, what children really want is a costume that doesn’t compromise on scare factor. It can be argued that all a trick-or-treater really needs to embody Halloween’s most iconic figure is a white linen and a pair of scissors.
When I was a child, I grew up in the countryside. I lived in a rustic bungalow on a 5-acre parcel of land. It was a quaint abode located fifteen kilometres from a hamlet of 300 people and sixty kilometres from the nearest full service town. All views of the house I lived in were concealed by a canopy of mature spruce trees. The trees were so dense they had to be trimmed back every year to prevent blockage of the driveway entrance. This property was accessible only by a single gravel road leading down a dead end street. Unfortunately, the gravel road was not well maintained and cellular phone reception was poor. It was common for foreigners to become lost in this area. My parents spent many evenings guiding travellers to the nearest gas station. This is how Shady Acres got its name.
As an avid music lover, I began this challenge by previewing some of the playlists that had been created by the other participants. This led to one important question:
In my sophomore year of high school, my friends and I revelled in the evenings spent gathering around each other's living rooms. A typical evening for us revolved around snacks, Netflix and the latest Youtube videos. Youtube was our source for popular music, gaming and practical jokes. Some of our favourite Youtubers included Jenna Marbles, Markiplier and Roman Atwood. I lived in an idyllic neighbourhood and recall many fond memories of my childhood.
I sent out star crossed envelopes With kisses tainted red Near and far across the country I summoned seven men Your presence is requested