Next month we'll talk about what we're grateful for.
We’re inching closer to Thanksgiving, when we celebrate family, friends and all the things we are thankful for.
So for November, please share a story — just one — of gratitude with the IJ.
Please make it a story, a personal story, with a beginning, middle and end — not six adjectives, not a cliche and not advice. Make us laugh or cry or at the very least feel something. For an example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That’s quite the story! Need more examples? “It can’t be. I’m a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.
If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:
• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line
• Send one story. Just one
• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments
• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments
• Use proper punctuation and spelling
• Use sentence style in one line
• It should not rhyme
• Do not submit six adjectives — that’s not a story
Please send to lifestyles@marinij.com by Nov. 17 and look for it in the Nov. 28 lifestyles section and online.
Last month we asked IJ readers to share their thoughts about a childhood Halloween memory. Here’s what they had to say.
My cat costume won first prize. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato
Halloween like Día de los Muertos. — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael
Feared razor blades, got caramel apples. — David E. Gilbert, Santa Venetia
Best friends dressed up as dice. — Kerstin Nash, Mill Valley
Dad! What? Teenage you toppled outhouses? — Bill Blackburn, Novato
Pumpkin-shuttered candles greet my ghostly guests. — Jan Weeks, San Rafael
Dad in costume! Scared us kids! — Nancy Greenfield, Larkspur
Full-size candy bars? I’m going back. — Jami Ellermann, San Rafael
Oops! Here comes my dad! — John Lind, San Anselmo
Halloween house so scary, I cried. — Richard Schneider, San Rafael
Sick sister, two bags, happy sister. — John Hanson, Novato
Cardboard boxes; sister, washer, me, dryer. — Connie Morse, Inverness
Three little pigs, sisters get first prize. — Jeanne Imai, Ross
Queens neighborhood: real devil, really there. — Jim Koger, San Rafael
Kids going through dad’s costume trunks. — Diane Ryken, Novato
1960: Cousin went as Aunt Jemima. — Carole Bonhomme, Greenbrae
Trick or treat, smell my feet. — Scott Kempf, Novato
Give me something good to eat. — Karen Zizzo Kempf, Novato
Crisp air, scared giggles, safe adventure! — Nancy Masterson, Larkspur
1950s’ autumn leaf-burning aroma harkened Halloween. — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield
One-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater. — Monica Rudden, Mill Valley
In ’55, we bobbed for apples. — Susan Lundy, Fairfax
Dreams came true: bags of candy! — Becky Bingea, San Rafael
Treats galore! Then mom always misplaces?! — Spencer Seidler, Greenbrae
1960s teens throwing eggs in Greenbrae. — John Neuenburg, San Rafael
Northern Minnesota: snow to my waist. — Doreen Malin, Ross
Excitement builds, surprises ahead, darkness sets. — Beth Kraft, Novato
Impersonated a pirate before Johnny Depp. — Sam Fleeger, Marin City
Full-sized candy bars were the ultimate. — Janice Kohnhorst, San Rafael
Somebody wanted to steal Bruno’s skull. — Heike Dittrich-Kruljac, Corte Madera
Halloween TPing houses isn’t as fun. — Georgia Flake, Novato
Kissed a vampire, lived to tell. — Sharon Eide, Novato
Chickenpox for Halloween; trick not treat. — Sarah Weller Leipsic, San Rafael
Cabbage Night, Halloween: N.J. kids’ thrill. — Gael Chandler, Novato
The Great Nike at Redwood High. — David Leipsic, San Rafael
No candy, got model trains instead. — Patrick Ritter, San Rafael
Neighbor’s homes. Kids’ candy. Dads wine. — Janice Burke, Novato
Two costumes: one Halloween, one saint. — Kate Martin, San Rafael
Bags full of heaven for all. — Hal Jennings, Mill Valley
School kids all costumed as beatniks. — Karen Arnold, San Rafael
Halloween was all trick, no treat. — Dart Cherk, Mill Valley
Politicians seek treats while we TP. — Mark Green Solomons, Fairfax
Scorched pumpkin, excitement abounds, sweet dreams. — Georganne Brumbaugh, Novato
Dare: ramshackle house with spooky trees. — Kate Brouillet, Novato
Great safe Halloween memories in San Anselmo. — Mary Lou Hayward, Novato
Endless Halloween candy collected in pillowcases. — Peter Hayward, Novato
The pinto horse costume was perfect. — Diane Cokely, San Anselmo
Shadows, costumed, egged — tricked, no treat. — Lucille Herger, Novato
1970s Halloween in Marinwood: pillowcase kids. — Kelly O’Haire, Marinwood
Four kids, always made homemade costumes. — Dee Vela, Novato
Phantom haunts Terra Linda; demands martinis! — Katherine Ware, Belvedere
Oh no, no, not again. Snowing. — Bill Kruljac, Corte Madera
Bedsheet, two eyeholes, I’m a ghost! — Norm Levin, Terra Linda
Counting candy, hot chocolate, with friends. — Ann Eller, Woodacre
Lots of candy, little for me. — Timothy Warden, San Rafael
Mayhem and murder. News at 11. — Gigi Bibeault, Terra Linda
Brother and I collaborated during Halloween. — Evelyn Riebe, Mill Valley
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Reese’s! — Leslie White, Larkspur
Pumpkin carving with costumes and candy. — Stacy Burroughs, San Anselmo
Neighboring farmer, giant pumpkin wagoning home. — Pierrette Montroy, San Rafael
Upended bag; sorted candy; kept chocolates. — Karen Hazlehurst, San Rafael
Hated costume. Boo hoo. In garbage. — Dave Myles, San Rafael
Kids’ treat bags, parents’ wine glasses. — Becky Praun, San Rafael
Pillowcases, homemade costumes, monkey masks — terrified. — Stephanie and Kimi Praun, San Rafael
Carved pumpkins, masquerading, treats with laughter. — Antoinette DeLucchi, San Rafael
Switch costumes — visit “treat” houses twice. — RG Langenhan, Terra Linda
Twilight, child ghosts rattled UNICEF pennies. — Pam Klein, San Rafael
Halloween window painting contest. Third place. — Amie Rudolph, Fairfax
1970s Halloween: Spirits roamed West Blithedale. — Jane Mock, Novato
Designing, creating spookiest garages with Brian. — Celeste Lindemann Chapman, San Anselmo
Fifth Halloween: live goldfish party favors. — Ann Davis, Tiburon
Bag ripped! Retraced steps! Candy found. — Dara Moskowitz, San Rafael
Brother saw candy: “Get my jacket!” — Jeri Sternenberg, Mill Valley
Zodiac Killer, no Halloween that year. — Marina Korman, Woodacre
“Vicky, who would egg our house?” — Victoria Worch, Novato
Costumes, candy, chaos! A child’s dream. — Gretchen Davidson, Mill Valley
Witches, magic broomsticks, no leaf blowers! — Mary Lock, Woodacre
Dressed as Elvis, high-five from police. — Steve Bouchard, Mill Valley
Clara’s candy apples: strong Halloween memories. — Elaine C. Johnson, Greenbrae
English Halloween lanterns made from rutabagas. — Susan Savage, Novato
Homemade ghosts toting flashlights and soap. — Lynn Arias Bornstein, Greenbrae
Magic broom, I sailed over moon. — Gailya Morrison, Lucas Valley
Pick one, cat suit or skeleton. — Diana Knight, Fairfax
Pops designed costumes, always too big. — Daniel R. Maloney, San Anselmo
Trick-or-treating outgrown, childhood nostalgia overtakes teen. — Alison Ferguson, Mill Valley
Halloween fun! Yeah! Then measles struck. — Pat Long, San Rafael
My dad. Porch. Mask. Hatchet. Candy. — Kathy Lococo, San Anselmo
Witch sleeping; reacts badly if disturbed! — Melodie Baird, Novato
Japanese girl … kimono — so un-P.C. now. — Diane Lynch, Tiburon
Costume? Meh! Candy! Collected year’s supply. — Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia
50,000 jelly sandwiches stuck on garage. — Monte Summers, San Anselmo
Everyone fairy princess but me, ham sandwich. — Spirit Lynn Wiseman, Fairfax
Drawing pumpkins, witches in school — happy. — Lucy MacSwain, San Rafael
Two pillowcases full of candy, yum! — Keith Granger, San Rafael
Door opened, gorilla suit, peed pants. — Al Shaver, Novato
We waited till dark … such fun! — Billie Forer, San Rafael
Mom sewed princess. I wanted clown. — Jane Ure, Mill Valley
