The Sightseeing Priorities of My Stepdad

One of the buildings shown in the movie "Hocus Pocus"

A little snippet of what it’s like traveling with my family:

On the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 a week ago, I stood with my family on a street corner in Salem, Massachusetts. As we waited for the light to change, a young woman approached us.

“Are you from around here?” she asked.

“No, we’re from Washington state,” my stepdad replied.

We chatted a bit about that, and she then explained that down the street, a memorial was soon taking place and that we should consider attending.

“In 10 minutes, you said?” my stepdad asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed, clearly thinking we’d start walking with her.

“Well, we’re gonna go see the Hocus Pocus house right now,” he replied, beaming widely as he remembered the 1993 cult classic. He loves how dumb the Sanderson sisters are.

“Thanks for letting us know!” the rest of us said, as we parted ways. Once she was out of earshot, I started in: “The Hocus Pocus house?!” I spat out.

“Yeah, why would we want to go to some funeral?” he asked.

“It’s the anniversary of Sept. 11 — that’s what the memorial’s for,” I patiently explained, as my mom and sister couldn’t contain their laughter in the background.

“Oh, I thought she kind of looked at me funny when I said we were going to the Hocus Pocus house,” he replied, pronouncing it as “Hocust Pocust” and drawing out the syllables the way he always does.

“Thanks a lot,” I said. “Now we’re that family.”