I hope everyone had fun trick-or-treating last night. Despite the weather, my three had a blast and luckily for me were completely exhausted after we got home and happily passed out shortly after their heads hit the pillow with a belly full of candy.  

(Remind me to call our dentist in the morning!) 

We only had one hiccup last night… Kameron (the three-year-old) had an encounter with one of those 12’ skeletons adorning one of the neighbor’s yards. She quickly got over it when it was time to go to another house to make her next collection, but I feel the skeleton made a lasting impression because she brought it up to almost anyone that tried to talk to her the rest of the evening. 

At our next stop, a friend asked her if she was having fun and she replied, “Yes, but that skeleton over there almost made me throw up.” 

Apparently, I was unaware that she was so terrified she almost lost her own insides.  

And I also found myself becoming slightly jealous of this fictitious skeleton. Not because of its ability to almost make my daughter hurl, but because it just stood there commanding attention – bare bones and all. (I know it’s weird how my mind works sometimes.) 

While everyone else was dressed up, taking advantage of the one night a year to pretend to be someone else (although many pretend to be something they are not on more than one occasion a year), Skeleton was just putting it all out there for everyone to see.  

I wouldn’t say I pretend to be something I am not, but I definitely keep a lot to myself.  

One thing I have worked hard to overcome this year is my inability to be vulnerable. Which you may find odd considering you all pretty much know some of the most challenging parts of my entire life. But there are still a lot of things I haven’t been ready to share, but hopefully will soon. 

I truly began writing this column as an outlet for me… 20 minutes per week to just find some relief during the all-time hectic schedule I possess. But recently, it has become more obvious that people actually do read it (which still continues to shock me). Trust me, this column really is more for me than you, I promise.  

But I have avoided being vulnerable here for a while now, just out of fear of judgement or pissing other people off, but if it helps someone else, then it is worth it to me.  

Skeleton would be proud of me I think.. so stay tuned.

(Paige Gurgainers is mother of three girls, publisher of Bienville Parish Journal and Claiborne Parish Journal and a digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)