H: Horror & Hemlock

H: I debated. Did I want to write about humor or horror? Then I decided I could combine both with a salute to Stephen King, my husband's favorite author. We heard Stephen King speak in Dallas - a rare appearance. He was promoting his 1963 book. He was funny and creepy, and he made you think about things that go bump in the night. Mr. King is a master at creating characters who appear normal, in a town that appears normal, until you realize that something's a bit off, and then all hell breaks loose. Carrie at the prom. It - scary clown. He throws in humor, the kind that makes you chuckle uncomfortably, relax for a second, let your guard down, and then ....bam....hits you with horror.

I personally think Pet Sematary is one of King's best horror tales. Animals that go berserk. Yikes. Your favorite pet is buried and then comes back with drooling fangs. Holy cow! That's like the movie The Omen (the original) starring Gregory Peck. I wasn't afraid of Damien, the devil child. It was those darn black snarling dogs in the cemetery scene. I cowered under my seat during that frightfest.

Heeere's Johnny! That's priceless horror humor - Jack Nicholson with an ax, slashing at a door, and sticking his head through the opening. The Shining is one of the best adaptations of a King book. Talk about cabin fever.

Finally - we start this week with a famous poison - Hemlock. The poisonous leaves can be made into a fatal salad, which paralyzes the muscles. The mind remains clear until death from paralysis of the lungs. Most famous death - Socrates drank from a cup that contained hemlock. He walked until he dropped. Don't know if he had time to use the Socratic method to deduce his murder.

Stephen King:Rare Appearance

Stephen King.

Standing ovation before the man even spoke. Wow! He is a literary magician. On Writing is the bible for writing students. The Stand started it all. IT still scares the bejeezus out of us. Carrie - the book was amazing. The movie introduced us to Sissy Spacek, an impeccable actress.

And so it goes. Our bookshelves groan under the weight of Stephen King's words. I'm grateful each Christmas for his tremendous production, and Ray acts surprised every time he opens a book present. It's tradition.

11/22/63 is Mr.King's latest offering. I have not read it yet. However, his author discussion was fascinating. His opinion is that Oswald assassinated Kennedy alone. Mr King basically said, "Follow the bullet." The book involves time travel and the chance to change history. No doubt, in the world of Stephen King, nothing is predictable or a sure thing.

As we left the Majestic (a gem of a theater), Ray said, "You could spend a day with Stephen King." Indeed, he was funny, charming, opinionated, self deprecating, and a tad odd. Altogether, the perfect dinner guest. I thank the Sixth Floor Museum for hosting an excellent author event.

Stephen King. Standing ovation.

Fear, Frights, and Terror (and candy)

Fear - it's the creepy crawlies, the willies, things that go bump in the night. Read Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King, or Jeffrey Deaver's works and I dare you to turn off the light.

Vampires, zombies, ghosts, and ghouls. A haunting - perhaps The Turn of the Screw

Halloween is a bit of a silly season, yet the bright orange pumpkins and scary masks are harmless fun. When else do you take candy from strangers? Play ghostly organ music, conjure up a phantom, or watch old Vincent Price or Bela Lugosi movies. I can remember, as a kid, tromping about our neighborhood in PA on a Halloween night with my costume on and a winter coat (due to snow flurries). That diminishes the oomph of the presentation.

I vant to suck your blood - say it with your best Transylvanian accent. Or dance the Time Warp again a la Rocky Horror

Eat gobs of candy corn. Just don't step on the scale. EEEEEEK!!!

Happy Halloween