My kids loved it, of course. Every October, they’d press their little faces against the living room window to watch Derek carefully arrange his creatures, fog machines hissing, animatronic monsters creaking. “Look! He’s putting up the witch with the glowing eyes!” Max would shout. “The skeletons, Max,” I would correct gently. Even Noah squealed at the fog machine’s eerie mist, eyes wide with wonder. I’ll admit, from a distance, there was something magical about Derek’s dedication. But living next door? It could be exhausting.Continue reading…
