I didn't have a very fun Halloween the year I was 12:

Tues. 31 Oct. 1989:

Dear Anne,
Sorry I've neglected you for so long, but I got sick Friday, was sick all weekend (so much for my perfect attndance record for Sunday School) and went to the doctor on Monday. Dr. Gross (That's the name of our family physician) said I had a virus. he said I'll have it for about 2 months. It's not mononucliosis, but it acts like it. If I get any exercise of just about any kind, I'll get even more worn down and maybe get another infection. Awful, isn't it? Yesterday I played 2 consecutive games of Monopoly with and lost 2 consecutive games of Monopoly to my omom. It took most of the afternoon and part of the evening, but it was fun. My main problem is, my throat hurts. I went home early friday and missed the Hobo Party everyone was dressed up for. And today, I missed the Honor Roll field trip. I worked hard and I missed my reward because I was sick! I cried over it this morning while my mom was at work. They went and toured the Amarillo Globe Times and then went to the Discovery Center, a hands-on museam, and saw the dinosaur exhibit on there. They went to McDonalds for lunch then afterward, went to a really neat park in Amarillo. I've got to go, my mom's coming, and I don't want her to gripe me out for not brushing out my hair (Whew! She didn't)
Yours truly,
Jodi

Everything sounds like more fun when you have to miss out. I was sick a lot during this period. We never really had a good answer for why, as far as I know.