This past week was full of excitement. A little travel planning, a lot of Halloween fun, and even a day of racing fast cars. It felt like one of those weeks that never slows down but leaves you smiling when it’s over.
I started the week by doing something I really don’t enjoy: booking flights. I’ve got a business trip to Miami in a couple of weeks, and every time I have to schedule one, I forget how time-consuming it is. You compare flight times, prices, and connections until it starts to feel like a part-time job. Every trip, I tell myself I’m going to hand it off to a travel agent or someone else to take care of it, but somehow I never do. So that was Monday. Not exactly thrilling, but at least it’s done.
By Wednesday, things took a much better turn. One of our vendors invited me and Holly to the Porsche Driving Experience, and it was incredible. We got to drive three different Porsches that day, including a few of the sportier ones and a Cayman. The Cayman was my favorite because it came with a surprise. They have an off-road obstacle course that feels like you’re driving up and down a mountain.
At one point, we had the car balanced with two wheels on an embankment and two off the ground. It was wild to see how stable those cars really are. Then we hit the drifting section, which was a water-covered track designed just to let you slide around and test control. It was pure fun.
The whole facility is impressive. They have a photo wall showing Porsche models throughout the years, and it gave me an idea. I want to do something similar at the firm that shows how we’ve grown and changed over time.
After that adrenaline rush, it was time to switch gears and focus on Halloween. It’s one of our favorite times of the year, and at our house, it’s no small production.
We’ve built up quite a few traditions over the years. Our annual Halloween party and the famous box maze for the neighborhood kids are always the highlights. Holly handles the food and indoor decorating, and I’m in charge of the outside setup and maze building. It’s a team effort that somehow comes together every year.
Before the big night, we did something we don’t usually get to do: we actually went out. One of our favorite local restaurants, Van Zandt’s, hosted a masquerade ball on the Thursday before Halloween. Since we’re normally busy hosting our own event on the 31st, it was nice to relax and enjoy someone else’s party for once. The costumes were great, the atmosphere was lively, and it made for a fun night out before our big weekend.
Halloween night was perfect. The house was covered in decorations, the lights were glowing, and the maze was ready for action.
This year, I dressed as a pirate, and our dog Ted joined me as “Pirate Ted.” He recently lost one of his eyes, so the theme felt right. I wore my eyepatch on the same side as his, which made for a great photo, even though he didn’t seem too thrilled about the costume. Our other dog, Luna, was dressed as a carrot. She tolerated it for a little while but eventually made it clear she’d prefer something with more dignity next year.
Holly went as Wednesday Addams, and she nailed it. Her parents came over for the party, my parents and brother stopped by, and the house was full of laughter, food, and kids running through the maze. It’s one of those nights that always feels a little magical.
Halloween has become our family’s signature holiday. When our kids were younger, we decided it would be the one holiday we stayed home for. No traveling, no rushing. Just us, the decorations, and the neighborhood kids. It started when we lived near Fort Benning, Georgia, and later Clarksville, Tennessee. Traveling on a school night was hard, so we built our own tradition right here.
Every year, we add one or two new decorations. After 25 years, it’s safe to say we’ve collected quite a few. Some are fancy, but most are simple and sentimental. The older ones are a little cheesy, but they carry memories from years gone by. Lately, I’ve leaned more toward blow-up decorations, but they don’t seem to last as long as they used to. The older ones actually hold up better. Still, we keep adding and adjusting every Halloween, and it’s something we look forward to every single year.
Friday morning, I went to the gym with my dad. It’s something we try to do every week when I’m not traveling. We’ve been doing it for a long time, and it’s become one of those steady routines that means more than it looks like on paper. It’s not just about exercise. It’s about catching up, laughing, and keeping that time together.
By the weekend, we were exhausted but happy. Between the party, the decorating, and the maze cleanup, we earned a quiet couple of days.
The week started with something I dread—travel booking—but ended with all the things I love: family, friends, laughter, and community. The Porsche driving experience was a rush, the masquerade was a blast, and Halloween was everything we hoped it would be.
Every year, this holiday feels like the start of something bigger. It kicks off the season and reminds us that traditions matter. They connect us to where we’ve been and the people we share it with.
Here’s to another great Halloween and to carrying that same spirit into the rest of the season.
Until next week,
Shane
If you're navigating life after an injury and need someone to fight for you while you focus on healing. In pain, call Shane.