When I was a kid, Halloween was always my favorite holiday. Nothing beat being able to dress up all day and get free candy from every person in the neighborhood. Now that I am older, Halloween is still my favorite holiday - but for an entirely different reason.

When I started Moderating the South Park Digest in September of 1999, Halloween was just around the corner. As we got closer to the holiday, members of the Digest began spelling Halloween with an "ein" at the end instead of the traditional "een" in honor of my last name. And since then, it was never spelled the same again.

Once the Digest members made Hallowein a personal holiday for me, I decided that I should throw a Hallowein party and invite anyone from the Digest that wished to come. The first South Park Hallowein party was planned for 2001 and four members of the Digest planned to come - Montel from Alaska, Bob from California, Arthur from London and Devorah from Colorado. Then, one month before Hallowein - the world fell victim to the events of September 11th.

After that tragic day, I did not expect my four guests to come to the scheduled bash. At that time, people were still weary of flying and in fear of another potential attack on American soil. But to my surprise and appreciation - none of them cancelled their scheduled flights. In addition to wanting to see New York City - they knew what I went through that horrible day, that I lost Doug in the attack - and that I was living the disaster each day at the OEM Command Center - so they insisted on coming and partying with me irregardless of the concerns at the time.

When they got to my house and the weekend began - I felt, for the first time since that tragic Tuesday, finally back to normal. Despite the fact that I had to work almost every day that they were at my house due to the high level of alert that the City was still in - I actually felt removed from the event thanks to the love and comfort of my friends, who came in to celebrate the holiday now associated with my name.

Once word of the first Hallowein spread through the Digest, people were already talking about Hallowein 2002. As the year progressed, it seemed as if everyone wanted to come. To my amazement - an unbelievable twenty-seven people flew in from as close as Atlanta and as far away as Holland to join me for tricks and treats. I could not believe then - and still do not believe now - that almost three dozen people came to my house from literally all over the world to be with me for Hallowein. I can still remember seeing so many familiar faces and new old friends in my house dressed up and having a blast. I have thrown many parties in my life - but that one was by far the most amazing - and the most dear to my heart.

And now it is Hallowein 2003. This time, I have three members of the Digest joining me for the festivities. My dear sister Julie from Maryland, who I had the pleasure of seeing both in Chicago and Ohio, Summer from Atlanta who was at last year's Hallowein party and with me recently in Ohio - and my new old friend Mike from Chicago - who I met in person for the first time last night when he landed - and who I already consider as close to me as the rest of my South Park family.

Our plans for this year's Hallowein weekend begin tonight when we go to the Greenwich Village Hallowein Parade. We will then spend the day in Manhattan tomorrow and cruise around it on the Circle Line at night - and then start Sunday with a Brooklyn bagel breakfast - and cap off the weekend with a Brooklyn Italian dinner with my mother.

Amazingly, and now traditionally - people who could not make it this year are already planning ahead for Hallowein 2004 - even though this year's Hallowein festivities have yet to begin.

Thanks to the members of the South Park Digest, who have already added so much to my life - I will never look at Hallowein the same way again. Instead of ghouls and goblins and tricks and treats - I will forever associate October 31st with the family that I have come to know through the South Park Digest - and forever finish the spelling of the name of the holiday with W-E-I-N.