Here we are. A year of anticipation has led to this. A restaurant chain with an old time southern theme, more known for its country comfort food than its Halloween decor, has everybody clamoring over a ghost statue.

A little primer for anybody who somehow avoided this event: Cracker Barrel officially unveiled this piece last year to instant acclaim. Immediately, it was one of the most coveted items of the year. And each Cracker Barrel store got exactly ... one. What was perhaps the most sought after piece during Halloween hunting season 2021 was nearly impossible to get your hands on.

By the time I even knew it existed, my store had sold their single ghost two days prior. An employee kindly offered to add me to a list they'd use to inform us ghost crazies when more came in, but more never arrived. One ghost was all that they were getting.

Despite my defeat, as any professional Halloween shopper can probably relate to, the hunt lived on in my heart. Throughout the year, my mind would occasionally wander back to that ghost, and hope next year Cracker Barrel would come prepared.

In June, I started dropping in once a week to keep an eye out for signs of it. When I first walked in to ask when they were getting Halloween in, I was immediately greeted by the spooky sounds of a pumpkin's audio track. To my surprise, two employees were already setting up a small spooky season display. "I came in to ask when you'd have Halloween, and you already do!"

Those helpful employees knew exactly what I was talking about when I asked if they were going to have "the ghost" again, and filled me in on what day of the week the truck arrives. A few weeks later, another told me to call the morning after truck day so they could hold it for me when it showed up.

I've heard stories about Cracker Barrel employees being rude to others trying to chase down the ghost. And though I thankfully did not experience that myself, I did notice that employees became increasingly difficult to find on the floor. One saw me checking out the Halloween section, and immediately disappeared into the back, never to return. One made eye contact with me and promptly vanished. Another saw me begin to walk toward her, turned on her heel ... and ghosted me. I guess my Halloween t-shirt attire in June made me look like the kind of ghost-loving nut who should be avoided.

While the chance of nabbing a ghost in-store was still feeling tenuous, I kept an eye on Cracker Barrel's online store. Last year, they released small batches of ghosts a few times throughout the season. I was hoping to luck out this year and check at the exact right time.

On July 6th, I noticed Halloween was beginning to pop up online. More items trickled in throughout the evening. And though I was especially tired this night, I stayed up. I just had a feeling (or a hope?) that this was my shot. Finally, at a little after 2 am, my hunch was proven correct. The "resin ghost with lantern" was online and in stock.

With adrenaline flowing, I nervously added it to cart and checked out as fast as I possibly could. And it worked! I wasn't greeted with a "sorry, this item is sold out" message. I made it to the page confirming my order, then an email confirmation followed. The ghost was mine!

Supposedly. I still spent the following day checking my email more than usual, worried my order would be canceled.

But it wasn't. A shipping confirmation arrived just a little over a day later. And though I was relieved to be one step closer, it still didn't ease my mind. Now ahead of it was the journey to me. It had to make it to me in one piece.

My heart was hammering when a big box from Cracker Barrel arrived a few days later. And after carefully unboxing it, I could finally say the words I was too nervous to believe before: I had the ghost.

If you were also ghost hunting, I hope you were successful. If not, I hope next year is easier. I heard reports of stores getting 2, 6, 12 in. After last year's debacle, I expected Cracker Barrel to be more prepared this time. I thought they'd load themselves up with so many ghosts, they'd still be trying to get rid of them in the spring. I never imagined that after so much demand, they'd increase supply so flimsily.

This ghost is an absolutely gorgeous piece, and clearly a beloved design within the spooky community. It deserves to get into the hands of the people who want it.

Watch my Cracker Barrel recap on TikTok.

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