Is it just me or was there a stunning lack of Halloween specials this year?  This is the first time in 12 years that Toy Story of Terror wasn’t aired on television.  And, of course, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has been an Apple TV exclusive for a while now.

It’s hard to explain why it bothers me so much.  Maybe I just don’t like change.  I know that all of the old Halloween specials that I enjoyed when I was younger can still be found streaming online.  I can watch them anytime that I want.  That’s not the point.  When I was growing up, there was something really special about gathering in front of the television with my family to watch those specials, even though I had seen all of them before.  They were an event.  They were something to look forward to.  The waiting and the knowing that everyone across the country would all be watching at the same time was part of what made them so special.  Now that you can just watch them whenever you want, it doesn’t feel as special.  There’s no anticipation.  There’s no thrill of the moment when it finally starts.  Worst of all, there’s no communal experience.  I could watch It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown in November if I wanted to.  I can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas Special in July.

I never thought I’d be sad over something like Toy Story of Terror not airing on television.  (This year, we watched it on Disney+.)  I am, though.  The world has become a little less fun and we no longer have something that used to bring the people together as a community.  I feel bad for a generation that’s never going to know the excitement of having to wait to see or get something instead of getting instant and empty gratification.  I worry that people don’t care as much about holidays and traditions anymore.  That’s a shame.

At least I’ll always have my holiday memories.