Like the quality of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, the excitement and fun of Halloween has seriously diminished.

I am not sure how many of you can still remember the glorious days of "Rocko's Modern Life," "Doug," "Dexter's Lab," "Batman: The Animated Series," and all the other genius of Boomerang and Hannah-Barbera cartoons. But those of you who do recall that golden era of bright colors, crazy creativity, and brilliant plotlines through which our young minds could frolic and be free, know that Halloween used to be of a similar virtuosity (or at least I think so).

Looking back to when I was considerably younger, I remember planning out my costume at least a month in advance. My siblings and I used to have a huge, extravagant party on Halloween and invite at least 40 people. We would play ghoulish games and eat festive food (like zombie punch, candy corn cookies, and cinnamon doughnuts). Pumpkin carving and decorating around the house were also favorite activities of mine.

Alas, no longer do I uphold any of these traditions. Perhaps it is because I am older now and the Halloween festivities are limited to participation by a slightly younger age group. Or perhaps the times have simply changed.

I place the this theoretical change in the enthusiasm and charm surrounding Halloween in October of 2001, the year of 9/11 and the beginning of "The War on Terror." I distinctly remember that noticeably fewer people were out trick-or-treating that Halloween. In fact, lots of kids were inside handing out candy to trick-or-treaters in their costumes instead of going out candy-begging themselves. When I came home from trick-or-treating that year, my mom ordered me to pour all my candy onto the table so she could check it to see if it was safe to eat.

I think that the paranoia stemming from 9/11 made America unnecessarily wary of the potential threat of terrorism, and the reprecussions of this anxiety extended to the Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating. That plus the fact that I am considered too old to get excited about Halloween and the time-constraints created by homework and school have almost destroyed the fall holiday for me.

But being the optimist that I am, I am determined to make this Halloween reminiscent of the old-school Halloween days. I already have a costume planned and the Halloween dance (CARNAVAL 8- to 11 p.m. this Saturday!) to attend, and though it's a slim chance that I will be decorating any part of my house or making zombie punch, I will most definitely be carving a pumpkin.