For those of you who do not know, Salem is my home town.  I was born and brought up here amid all this witch hocky, pocky.  The fact of the matter is, I was brought with the real witches not these fake ones of today.  Aside from that though, one must be careful.  Could be a few of the older witches and goblins, have sent along a new generation and I hear this generation loves kids...That's not a good thing.

That's right...the market is empty.  There are signs though that someone was here...art work on the tables, chairs that have not been set back.  Almost looks like everyone left in a hurry.  I don't even see anyone up there on the Town Hall steps.  I'll keep looking, I know as we move forward this month, if I don't find the children, it will get worse.  Long ago, they used to boil them in the big black pot.  You don't suppose that tradition has returned do you?? I'm going to carefully check all my old hiding spots and see if I can find them.  I used to be pretty good at keeping my Mom guessing as to where I was, but then again, I'm pretty sure with the four of us and my Dad in the service, hardly ever home, she didn't expel to much energy on her search.  Help me, will you.  Let's see if we can see any signs of life here this month..

Well, I didn't see them at the hat shop, nor down by the Willows.  The smell that drifts in the air from that fresh popped pop corn is usually a good hiding place for them, although, that turning hot popcorn maker could be a problem...still, they seemed to have escaped this time...and the seagulls are not talking.  Where can they be...those little buggers... My blood is starting to roll a bit...

Ah yes, I see them as I'm leaving the Willows...they are down at Waikiki beach.  Liam seems to have discovered a buried cave..he seems to be alone.  Did they get Jaxson and lock him up...oh my gosh...before I can stop the car, I see Jaxson flying down the hill, running as fast as his little legs will carry him..and what is that figure at the tops of the hill...my blood stopped boiling but now my heart is racing...they didn't run away, they were just wandering and now something scary is after them...I screech to a holt but because of my bum knee I can't run very fast and the two of them didn't see me there...they are gone... gone again.

So many hiding places in there and what about that secret staircase.  I better check.  A long time ago, during the Witch Trials, John Turner owned this house and he used to hide his sister in the stair case when the magistrates came looking for witches.  I wasn't born way back then so they never came to my house looking for me. Good news, the staircase is empty today. When you come to Salem, come early in the season but if you are afraid, go the Gables and hide in the staircase, you will never be found...Never.

I remember both boys were playing games with Papa...it started to get late and they were getting hungry.  Pizza...we went to the Flying Saucer.  The pizza was yummy but there were strange eyes watching...

Running as fast as we could and talking to all we met, even the weird ones, we still had not found them and now it was quite dark.  So many restaurants on Washington St. They could be anywhere.  They know though not to run away and they know it's dark.  Are they still scared? Did the creatures of the October moon entice them away from their Nana and Papa...aw and they said they would never leave us.  That's the thing though, in October you have to have your wits about you. You never know what's around the next corner...All the goblins, ghost and witches are out every night until Hallowed Eve...No time for thinking here, we must move on...WAIT....WHAT IS THAT AHEAD....OH NO,  I THINK IT NIGEL, Yes, it is Nigel.  Look, I see the boys...Like the crazy lady (I sometime am) I start calling to them.  Nigel and the boys turn to me..and they all have smiles on their faces...like they don't have a spiders worry in the world...

A bit winded but no the worse for the wear (as my Mom use to say).  Nigel saw the boys and barked to them...of course, they followed Nigel to where he was waiting for his ride.  He has his own private Uber and his driver was late.  Nigel didn't want to be alone so the boys waited with him.  So the night is saved. My blood is no longer boiling.  I see that Nigel was taking such good care of the boys and the boys were so happy to see him.  I hope this doesn't mean that I'm turning into a "soft witch" full of love and kindness.  Oh, I'm not sure my Mother would like that...

Finally, Nigel's ride comes along...Glasses on.  Ready to ride in the wind.  So a good ending for us and the boys after all.  Here's the thing about Salem in October though.  This had a happy ending because it was early in the month but I promise you, as the days go by, the haunting gets worse.  So I would recommend if your coming to hang with the "witches of Eastwick" be prepared.  Salem is not for the faint of heart this time of year.  Don't accept any magic potions, (you never know what medicines they put in there) or fortune telling, (It's never good news), no candy apples (the spiders love those) and most of all stay away from the dark alley's.  Lots of them in Salem.  I know them all.  

One last thing.  When you visit, come with an open mind and an open heart.  Most of the witches are really friendly. There is lots of good cheer (wink, wink) not for kids.  Dress up and you will fit right in, the crazier the better.  I guarantee you, when you wake up the next morning, you won't know whether you were really there or if it was all a dream....hahahahaha

Happy October my friends, beware of your surroundings.  Now where did I park my broom...

All photo's were taken with the Fuji X-T2.  Lens: Fuji 18-55.  No flash.  First time out at night and it did a decent job.  I'm getting used to it.  

A bit of history about Salem from pintrest:

https://www.pinterest.com/cowgirljoanie33/history-witchcraft-from-salem-ma/?lp=true