I don’t remember exactly how old I was when my parents forbade me from trick-or-treating because I was too old — the point at which I also stopped dressing up for Halloween. But since that time, I have missed the essence of the spooky holiday and what it had meant to me for so many years.

In the past 10 years, I’ve only dressed up for Halloween a handful of times. In college, I remember dressing up as an ‘80s soccer player for the infamous Halloween party at Utah State University called the Howl, but I must have put little thought into my other costumes because I can’t recall what they were.

But in the past few years it seems my interest in the teeth-rotting holiday has been rekindled. With that renewed interest comes the anticipation of planning out the perfect costume.

I thought of being the Progressive Auto Insurance girl, Flo, with her short, dark brown hair, headband, crisp white apron and name tag, but I didn’t want to buy a wig. I’ve browsed at various Halloween costume stores, but haven’t wanted to shell out $30 for a costume. So the costume I’ve decided on doesn’t cost much and requires just a little work.

The contents of my costume are purple leggings, a purple shirt, purple balloons and safety pins. I am going to go as a bunch of grapes. And later in the night on Halloween, as some of my balloons will inevitably be popped, I’ll either have replacements in my pocket or turn into a bunch of raisins.

My husband, with his shoulder-length hair and three-week-old beard grown specifically for Halloween, is bound to be something from days of old. Think a Biblical figure. Last year he squeezed into his old Boy Scout uniform, which hadn’t been worn since he accepted his Eagle Scout Award when he was 12. Complete with a baseball cap, knee-high socks and green shorts, Boy Scout Miley was a hit.

I have a friend who has been talking about Halloween for months, and he’s been planning his ultimate costume all that time as well. He is so excited about his costume that I have been sworn to secrecy because he doesn’t want any copycats taking his idea. I’ll just say it involves an intensive process of applying numerous hair extensions to his body.

While it may seem strange to put so much effort into a costume as an adult, Halloween is one day I can dress up in a silly costume and not have to explain myself. I could dress up whenever I wanted when I was a kid and no one would bother me.

This Halloween, once the trick-or-treaters have all gone home to examine their pillow cases filled with goodies, I’ll be ready to go out on the town, proudly donning my bunch-of-grapes costume and ready for excitement. And my husband and I already have an idea for next year’s costumes: Shaggy and Scooby Doo.

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com