From monsters to becoming a Sasquatch Believer, my introduction to monsters as a small kid to my relationship with Bigfoot today. Many unnamed monsters hid under my bed or in my closet. There was a monster in our basement, I knew it! Sasquatch was among my firsts impressions and relationships with monsters. He is the first monster the adults seemed to believe in and question too. To this day, any of the rest of the monsters disappear when the lights are turned on. Kids everywhere will confirm this!
My Introduction to Monsters
I was a young child when I first heard about Bigfoot. My uncles and parents’ male cousins would tease me about Bigfoot coming after me. But he was just another monster to believe in as a kid. I knew there were monsters in foggy boggy swamps that lived in the waters. They would come out of the swamp with seaweed hanging from their man on the moon like costumes and helmets. I had a very vivid imagination and one heck of a recurring nightmare about this one! He didn’t have a specific name but reminded me of “The Thing”.
The Unknown Monster
Another monster in my world, I call the “Boogley-Eyed Man”. I have no idea what I thought this monster looked like. No recollection at all! But I know he rode an “O-go-cite”, a monster’s bicycle. I must have been intimidated by some older kid or adult in my neighborhood! Who knows. My memories of the neighbors were of their gardens and kids gathering to walk to school together. We would go to the door and sing the Carpenter song “On Top Of the World” picking each person up. School was just a couple blocks away.
From Monsters to Folklore Legends
As I started nearing my pre-teen years I started hearing other stories with monsters. These were the life-like ghost stories older children tell younger children. The stories of being home alone and a sinister creature was stalking its prey. The stories of kids walking home from school or a friend’s home and one by one the friends would silently disappear. Then a bloodied article of clothing would suddenly appear flying over a hedge landing at the remaining children’s feet.
There are legends of teenagers going to drive-in movies being attacked. Cars shredded and turned over with remnants of torn clothing but no bodies. Stories of haunted houses with doors opening and closing randomly. Chandeliers swinging. Pictures falling from the wall and cups flying off tables crashing to the ground.
Monsters on TV
It didn’t help that The Exorcist and Poltergeist and Beyond the Door were all movies people talked about. We weren’t allowed to watch these. Although one night we earned a late-night privilege and watched Beyond the Door on television. We were old enough to stay home without a babysitter and our parents had gone out on a date.
Beyond the Door was playing on the original Fox television that was new to our local airwaves. Back then, most television stations went off the air close to midnight. This was no exception. Even though we had been granted the privilege of a later night, it wouldn’t have mattered. We didn’t have anyone screening our choice of programming. Plus, it was night time and it was dark. To this day, I believe it is one of the scariest, creepiest movies I have ever seen.
Monster in a Movie
I want to acknowledge one other monster to frighten me. Are you ready for it? There is a good chance this one is familiar to you. This monster had me clutching the couch. It is the werewolf from the 1985 Stephen King’s movie, The Silver Bullet. It’s been awhile since I have watched it. The Legend of Boggy Creek had been out but somehow I missed seeing this movie until I was an adult.
Campfire Stories with Monsters
How I wish I could remember exactly one of those sit around the campfire stories, other than Bigfoot. Mostly, I recall my uncle telling us a lot of bull malarkey. For years, us kids — we call ourselves “the cousins” (includes siblings in each family), believed moose had nests in trees. We were convinced my uncles were related to Paul Bunyan due to their wood chopping abilities. They could even hold a beer with their teeth while splitting a log! It was impressive!
Only one legend stands out in my memory. A legend for telling at our slumber parties. If only I could relay it to you all now. Okay, I’ll give it my best shot.
Next Article: The Legend of Chiffaw #3
In Search of Sasquatch – 1997 #5
Where Finding Bigfoot Went Wrong #6
Sister Sasquatch – A Religion #1
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