On October 5, my countdown began: 30 days until my 30th birthday. In honor of this, on each of the 30 days leading up to my birthday I will recount one memory from the past 30 years… either one that has helped define me, one that makes me laugh, one that makes me think, one that encourages me…  or maybe a little of everything. If possible, I will post a photo to go along with the memory.

It’s my 30/30/30 Project: 30 years. 30 memories. 30 days.

Here is my memory for Day #26:

Visiting Salem, MA in October became a family tradition of ours at some point in my teens. Our whole family would take the 2-hour trip to the historic town – the site of the Salem Witch Trials – for the Haunted Happenings festivities that take place throughout the entire month of October.

One place that we always made sure to stop by? The Ye Olde Pepper Companie candy store, America’s oldest candy company. It’s the first place I ever had rock candy… and I was hooked. Pure sugar? Yes, please! 🙂

This photo was taken during our Salem visit of 1996.