Blog Set 12: Don't Bury Me And Be Careful What You Wish For!

"The Premature Burial" 

Have you ever heard of the adage, "You can worry yourself sick?" How about, "Thoughts grow into our worst fears?" The premise that all thoughts eventually lead to our own affliction is not entirely factual, but does stand to make a good argument that something can be grown within the mind to dangerously sickening proportions. Can someone worry himself or herself to sickness? My answer is: yes. That's speaking from personal, first-hand experience. There was a time in my life when I would worry about everything! I mean ev-ery-thing. My first flight to London was horrendously dreadful as I imagined all of the thousands upon thousands of possible tragic outcomes that come with flying in an airplane: the plane might experience engine failure, I might catch an incurable disease, or someone will steal from me, etc. These thoughts eventually grew so deep into my mind that weeks prior to my trip, I was undergoing the physical complications of extreme anxiety: sweaty palms, upset stomach, headaches, and there were always the horrible images of trypophobia flashing across my mind. It was utter misery that I was putting myself through. All of this beginning in my mind and radiating outward into true physical manifestations; I hated myself for thinking up all of the horrific scenarios. 

My personal experiences can easily be related to our narrator in Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, "The Premature Burial”. He worries about being buried alive so much that he sets up an elaborate system of "fail/safes.” To his climactic conclusion, during a hunting trip with friends, he assures to himself that the constant fear of the unknown cannot shadow his need to live in the moment. He sets aside his fears and carries on without hesitation to the possible grim realities that might befall him in the most assuring of certainties. 

After my trip to London and returning safely home, I was recommended to several doctors and holistic healers for my "homegrown" fears. After seeing a plethora of professionals and educating myself on the vast array of self-help tips, my anxieties and inner mind fears were pretty much all but eliminated from my psyche. During the subsequent years after my intensive treatment, I successfully traveled numerous times to Europe and throughout the United States. I also found helpful tricks of the mind to keep my worries of the possibilities that life might throw at me in check. One of which, is my favorite, "STOP IT!" Video enclosed. 

I would assume that Poe understood psychology of the mind and that fear is grown outward from the mind and very rarely inward to the mind. He ever so elegantly draws his readers into their darkest fears of being buried alive by telling us short captivating stories. Once he has our undivided attention, he goes in for the kill. He recalls his own close call of being buried alive and does not foreshadow the moral outcome of his tale. Only at the very end of the short story does he assert his mental recheck onto our minds the notion that fear can be deafening to the soul's enjoyment of life. Similar to my experience, I can only look back with self-confidence that I overcame my fears. Now, what about you? 

"The Monkey's Paw"

        Be careful what you wish for. You never know what you might just get. This story was chillingly captivating and mysterious. The realm of supernatural streams over this story like a dense fog over a moor. You can feel the anxiety in the air as the solider foreshadows the doom that comes from the usage of the Monkey's Paw. The elements of magic and unseen powers directing fate are strong foundations to the unexplained world.

        We have all had our wishful thinking periods in a lives. Winning the lottery or being humble enough to get that dream job, are all possibilities, if we believe. "The Monkey's Paw" by J.J. Jacobs plays into those very notions of thought. The what if's to everyday occurrence and the unlikely results of irresponsible wishing. After reading this story, I remembered a short tale about a man who wished for a million bucks. The magic lamp, which housed a powerful genie granted this person his wish by making a million "buck" deers appear. I assume he should have been a little more detailed in explaining, a million US dollar bills than a million bucks.

        The supernatural is an unseen truth of the human condition. Throughout the ages, this unexplained world has been our salvation and excuse for our way of life and moral compass. It gives us hope that there is a life beyond this physical one and that sometimes, a coincidence is not always what it seems to be. If you wish for someone to return from the dead, be sure to detail that they should be restored to their previous self, not their current rotting condition. What gets me is the ignorance of the parents and their foolish wish requests. It was only during their desperate time of need, did the father's logical request in sending his mangled sons body away made me feel assured that providence prevailed. What a trip! Could you imagine if Disney's Aladdin played out like this story? I'm sure the parents would have loved that! 

Blog Set 11: Between Two Coffee Mugs!

"Berenice" Interview. 

***This scripted interview is a modern take on the tragic events depicted in the short story, "Berenice", by Edger Allen Poe. The concept of the interview has been taken from Zach Galifianakis's highly successful web-episodes, "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis”. Enjoy!***

Falcon: "Hi and welcome to another edition of “Between Two Coffee Mugs”, I'm Michael Falcon. My guest today is Mr. Egaeus, who is mostly know for his horrific crime against his beautiful cousin Berenice, back in 2013. His deplorable crime of passion sent shock waves throughout the nation as police uncovered the details of his horrific crime against the then gorgeous, Berenice. She was featured on the hit television show, “Americas Got Talent”, and most recently, before her tragic demise, “America’s Next Top Model”. But, I digress. Mr. Egaeus, welcome and thank you for being on “Between Two Coffee Mugs”.

Egaeus: (Looking off into space, like a mad man who just recently escaped from jail) "Thanks Michael.” (Long pause) “I'm glad to be here." 

Falcon: "Well, it's good to have you here, even if it's only half of you, and by that, I mean the physical you." 

(Egaeus looks at Michael for a brief moment, they lock eyes as if they are having a moment of deep thought in the middle of their conversation.)

Falcon: "Soooooo I hear you like reading books! Why don't you share with us some of your favorite titles that you’ve recently read.” (Awkward pause, staring at Egaeus, paper with questions in hand. He shuffles them around nervously.) “You know, I read a book once, it was called "Rashomon". A very good book, I highly recommended if you have any time." 

(Egaeus waits a moments, still staring at Michael with what appears to be disbelief.)

Egaeus: "I like reading books, they keep me in my happy place." 

Falcon: "And what the hell is your happy place, a dentist office? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that!" 

Egaeus: "Asshole. No, I like reading about Latin and old stories about love and longing. I desire certain things in life and I always seem to be just out of reach of getting them.” (Stretches his arm out towards Falcon as he says that. Subsequently, Falcon leans back into his chair to avoid Egaeus’s hand) “Have you ever had that feeling? That longing for connection and companionship? Oh, if I could only see my loves again." 

(Falcon holding his paper questions in hand, showing a facial expression of shock and disgust while Egaeus looks wistfully into space.) 

Falcon: "Well, yes, I have that feeling all of the time, especially when walking by a StarBucks and seeing all of those goodies and then looking down at my belly and wondering, why not stomach, brain, and mouth? Why can't I have just one treat today? Usually they acquiesce." 

Egaeus: "I-I-I don't think we are on the same page herrrrrre. (Reflecting now the same shocked as Falcon did and then a long pause as if a whole new idea dawned on him) You have beautiful teeth, you know." 

Falcon: "Why thank you a-an-and back off. They're staying right in my mouth, buuuuut thank you very much. So, let's talk about Mommy! How did Berenice fill this void of love for you?" 

Egaeus: "Mom wasn't around much.” (pause) “After birth, I mean. She was really gone!” (staring out into space ) “But Berenice, she gets me and understands my talents and heh mental shortcomings. She accepts me for who I am and what I contribute to society. But revealing to the world just how beautiful her teeth are, well, those lovely pearly white teeth of her's are stunning. I sometimes touch my teeth with my tongue, imagining that they are her teeth that I am touching."

(Total shock now from Falcon, as if Egaeus is contagious with madness. Egaeus is licking his teeth. Surely, he is imagining they are Berenice’s.)

Falcon: "You are one messed up little man! You and your fetish with teeth. I bet The American Dental Society has a lifetime ban on you! Sicko! What filth you are and what's up with the creepy teeth references? I mean we all know what happened you grave robber! I just don't get how you didn't remember what you did? I mean, come on! When you dropped the box, what were you expecting, Monopoly game pieces? You are one sick man!"

Egaeus: "It takes one to know one!"

Falcon: "Is that a threat or a observation? I don't know, my English teacher is always correcting me. Well, that's it folks. I'm Michael Falcon and this has been another edition of “Between Two Coffee Mugs”, Good Night!" 

(Egaeus looking straight into the camera, Falcon looking at him and shaking his head. Fade to black, intro music and credits) 

"The Furnished House Room" Question:

Drama is everywhere now a days. I'm sure the hustle and bustle of New York City life would make anyone a little bit fascinated and curious about what occurs behind all of those closed doors. What's happening with the newly married couple? What's going to happen to the lonely old man? Who is the new attractive lady living in that house? All of these questions and more are pondered while people are walking down Lexington Avenue. So, why not wonder and fantasize about what it must be like living in someone else's shoes? I know that the few times I have visited New York City, I thought the blind & curtain business must be a real bust. Pretty much everyone has his or her windows open to the outside world, and are allowing complete strangers a glimpse into the window of another person’s life, while the occupants of said windows look out onto the dirty streets. The only thing separating the two worlds is a thin piece of glass. This is very much unlike South Florida, where everyone has their houses and apartments covered up, and people never reveal what happens inside. South Floridians create a mystery for dog walkers and runners who ponder what really goes on behind closed doors and covered windows. 

"The Board Window" Question:

Where did the cougar come from? What a remarkable plot twist! I believe it is supernatural because the lady was already dead and then she came back to life to protect her lover. The bite marks and fur left behind are evidence of the great battle. She was called back to her body to do one more act or feat of love and protection. We hear about these types of things every once in a while: a mother comes back to life to save her children or just a strange coincidence of events after the fact of death. The spirit is more powerful than we give credit and the hand of action is like the samurai, even with the head cut off, it can still perform one more action with certainty. Ghost Dog!