“Heroes need monsters to establish their heroic credentials. You need something scary to overcome.”
The morning is hot, humid and windy. It is also cloudy again. I have a couple of errands. Jack, the cat, needs more food. Nala, the thief, got in and stole all the envelopes of Jack’s new food. I have cans of food, but Jack doesn’t like the food in the cans, the same food he ate last week. Cats are peculiar.
When I was a little kid, I believed in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy and all magical beings. I thought fireflies were fairies, relatives of Tinker Bell. The nights, though, were for vigilance when witches, trolls and goblins wandered. I always figured that was why I had to be home when the streetlights came on, to keep me safe from the dark creatures. I loved stories like Hansel and Gretel, The Brave Little Tailor and Jack and the Beanstalk. They were the good guys. They beat the bad guys.
In Ghana, my language instructor told us folk tales. Mosquito buzzes ear because mosquito is in love with ear who rejected him. The buzzing reminds ear that mosquito is still around. Adze, in a Ewe folktale, is a vampire who turns into a firefly and even a human. It possesses people and turns them into witches. People still believe in witches in Ghana, and there are witch camps where women accused of witchcraft, who have had to flee their villages, live in safety.
I love the classic horror stories rather than the ones with blood and gore and victims a plenty. I’ll always watch Dracula, my favorite. His eyes are mesmerizing, and his cape work captivating especially when he hides his victims and bites behind it. I’d like to be invisible though not mad, crazy, like The Invisible Man. I’d sneak on planes and travel. I’d spook people on Halloween. I’d never want to be The Wolfman, the poor, old sad Wolfman. Frankenstein is my least favorite.
When I was a kid, I knew the difference between what is real and what isn’t, but I remember hearing noises and, instead of hiding, I’d yell out and warn whatever was out there I was armed. It was a lie. It was bravado, but it seemed to work. I never did get attacked
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July 16, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Hi Kat,
This morning we had a brief thunderstorm and until the afternoon the sky was gray. The high was a chilly 90°.
Today was a 100% lazy day. I didn’t leave my easy chair not did I shave, shower, or do anything. I’m still dressed in my PJs. I watched the Rangers sweep the weekend series with the Guardians, I can’t say that name with a straight face. Why the Cleveland Guardians? I understand killing the name Indians, but why not something about Cleveland like, The Rockers.
Anyway, My spouse is out bringing home Chinese food, and everything is right with the world. Tomorrow, I will get up, shower, shave, dress, and go to work to start the work week. Today, slough day supreme. 🙂
July 16, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Hi Bob,
We had rain late in the afternoon. It was so quiet I didn’t even know it had rained until I noticed the back door and screen were wet.
It got as high as 82° here today. This has been a hot week for July.
I had to get dressed to do my errands. I made three stops, but I hurried so I could get home and get back into my cozies in my cool house.
Many of my days are like your today. I don’t get dressed and loll around the house. I have perfected being a sloth. It sounds like you have as well!!
July 16, 2023 at 9:10 pm
I learned from the best, you. 🙂
July 16, 2023 at 9:21 pm
Thank you! Thank you!
July 16, 2023 at 8:02 pm
We have some strange noises here, a hedgehog lives in our garden and at daytime it sleeps either under the shelf on the right or under the cupboard on the left so we hear cratching or coughing or else, today the metal drying rack made funny sounds. I like my noisy ‘monster’ and I’m glad it survived drought and winter.
It’s summer and I’m on the road nearly every day, I read your blog but was too tired to comment in the evening. Today music for free in the park next town, Swing and Folk music, 1 hour by bike. Yesterday we went to see an old town and abbey and a garden fair, 3 hours by train. Other days it’s a bike trip to the river or the canal or else. I love summer and we’re lucky that it’s currently not too here.
July 16, 2023 at 8:43 pm
Hi Birgit,
I love hedgehogs. I haven’t ever seen one in the flesh, in the wild. My sister in Colorado had an owl’s nest in her backyard. Later there were babies. Usually my sister has several rabbits eating her flowers and garden veggies but not this year. She figures the owl’s babies have been well fed.
Summer here is quite busy, but the traffic makes wandering difficult and annoying. I usually stay close to home and only go out if I have to
Last week I had no uke events as our “leader” was sick. This week I have five concerts, one practice and a lesson. My poor fingers!