In hindsight, I could have been more calm.

Sure, there was a wealth of candy just 80 feet from where I stood, but it would still have been there if I had walked there instead of tried to sprint.

While other neighborhood children raced up and down the sidewalks dressed as ghosts and goblins, I thought I had stolen the show in a large box decorated to look like a Christmas present.

The large box which had recently ferried an appliance to my parents’ house was how covered in wrapping paper and adorned with a large, red ribbon on top.

Two holes in the front let me see the world in front of me, and my arms poked out of holes on either side of the box.

Laughter and praise followed me from house to house.

Maybe that’s where it all went wrong.

Halfway through our route, my little sister and I found ourselves at the end of a long sidewalk leading to a gorgeous house.

Even from some 80 feet away, I could already hear the voices of the homeowners praising my costume and calling me to come get two handfuls of chocolatey goodness.

I let go of my sister’s hand and began to sprint toward the family and their candy.

About four steps into my run to glory, it all went wrong.

In my zeal to reach the candy in the shortest amount of time possible, I had failed to realize there was one step in the middle on their sidewalk.

One step, one four inch rise that would change this Halloween from perfect to hilarious.

Mid-sprint, both of my feet found the step, sending the world I had watched through the box hurtling upward.

As I tumbled face-first toward the sidewalk, I flung all my candy under myself. I can tell you now that nothing ruins a costume more than a layer of chocolate.

I’m pretty sure the sound of the box - aided by the weight of my body and massive head – slapping the sidewalk was heard throughout the neighborhood.

After she made sure I hadn’t been killed in the ego-bruising fall, it took my mother some 20 minutes to stop crying hysterically while she laughed about what had just transpired.

There have been other embarrassing Halloween moments in my life – including the time I took down a neighbor’s tree while running in full stride because I couldn’t see it through the fogged-up lenses of my Darth Vader mask – but this one remains funny to all.

Perhaps it remains funny because I wasn’t as young as you imagine I was when this occurred.

You see, I was in high school when this all occurred.

Go ahead and judge, but I wanted one more Halloween haul before I hung it up and became an adult.

Maybe this was God’s way of telling me I should have retired earlier.

Sure there are serious dangers to beware of on Halloween – including homemade poison cookies or houses with no candy at all – but please, remind your children to watch their step this year.

Jay Sowers is the photo editor for Gulf Coast Media. To reach him, please email jay@gulfcoastmedia.com