Halloween is practically canceled for all intents and purposes. Many of the events that would have celebrated the holiday have already been canceled, and towns have placed heavy restrictions on trick-or-treating due to COVID-19.

For a lot of people (myself included), decorating is the one thing we can definitely keep doing in the spirit of celebrating the holidays as we normally would.

This year, especially this year, let people have their Halloween decorations early. Let them guzzle their pumpkin spice iced lattes, shovel pumpkin pie into their mouths and buy out all the fall-scented soaps and candles in stores.

Let them fill their tables and shelves with skeletons, witches and candy jars until they overflow.

Let them buy one or two or seven too many fall- and Halloween-themed hand towels. Don’t even get mad at them for not using the towels for fear of staining them.

Just let them enjoy their Halloween and fall.

Considering the heavy restrictions on celebrating Halloween this year, I can see a lot of people wanting to buy Halloween decorations.

But alas, it’s still September. Many of the conventional stores have a limited supply or none at all.

I know because I looked. I was disappointed.

For those like me who want to decorate early (because this is one of the only Halloween pleasures we’re allowed right now), there are plenty of ways to make our own decorations.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just go to a craft store, buy your own materials and make some.

This could also be a fun way to bond with friends: Craft together (safely, of course).

I’m personally gobsmacked by how impressive some home-crafted wreaths are. The lengths people go to in order to perfect them are crazy, and they look so good (they can be sold for pretty pennies too).

Even though the Halloween we wanted won’t happen this year, we also still have movies, food and friends to enjoy it all with.

This is where I’m so thankful for streaming services. I’ve got “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Halloweentown” — I’ve got “The Witches,” “Goosebumps” and horror films aplenty.

And you’re telling me I don’t even have to get up to put the movies into my Blu-ray player? I can just sit back in my Jack Skellington leggings with a cup of cheap pumpkin spice-flavored coffee and relax?

Score.

If reading this felt like enduring a disjointed rant, well, that’s kind of what it is.

I’m so disappointed that we can’t celebrate Halloween the way we wanted to this year.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the little seasonal things that make us smile and temporarily forget about all the bad things happening in the world.

Logan Raschke is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at lrraschke@eiu.edu.