Skip to main content

Halloween #TBT

I know "time flies" is a cliche, but it's exactly what I'm feeling. I was going to write about last year's Halloween, but then I remembered the Halloween on my mind actually happened two years ago! I'm too young for time to go by so fast. Yet it does. 

Our Titania and Bottom costumes
Today I find myself reminiscing about the Halloween when Ryan came to visit me in West Virginia, and we made the drive to the gorgeous, sprawling Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston. (Click the link for pictures and more information.) I had heard about this place for years as a paranormal investigator, not fully realizing it was so close to where I lived in the Mountain State. 

It's one of those huge Gothic structures that dominates the landscape. The town of Weston itself needs some tender loving care. Although it is making progress, plenty of the buildings and homes are "blighted." But then you turn a corner and this magnificent former asylum stretches out behind the main street. 

We took a ghost tour there completely in the dark except for the light of our flashlights. It was unlike any ghost tour I'd experienced because after telling the stories, the guide let everyone explore on their own.  After that, we made our way down to the BYOB Halloween party, where we drank Mothman black IPA beer, people watched and listened to a live rock band. 

"Robert Smith" at the asylum party
It was a great night, barring the fact that when we got back to the house, I found out my drunk roommates and friends accidentally let my cat out of the house into the cold, windy evening. "Cold and windy" is putting it lightly. The wind howled like banshees, and it was so cold we weren't sure the cat would survive if she didn't take shelter. I called for her and looked everywhere before finally going to sleep. In the morning, the mayor of my town drove around looking for her. I ended up finding her hiding underneath the porch. She was so frightened that the only sound she could make was the tiniest squeak. 

Now I'm living back in Georgia. It was recently 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the leaves are still green. I'm working the ghost tours for fun this year, even though I work full time. I'm still planning how I'd like to enjoy this Halloween season. Last night we relaxed during a dark and stormy evening, courtesy of Hurricane Michael. I lit a pumpkin candle, and we ate dinner while watching the very beginning of the vampire movie Byzantium. Our wi-fi kept resetting because of disturbances on the power line, so we couldn't finish it.

Fall colors in Canaan Valley, WV.
I wish you all many spooky blessings this season. And remember, be careful out there. You never know what you might find when you venture out into the night. (This is where I wink.)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Odd Ghoul Out's 2019 Concert Clip Show

It's been a decade since I first got into goth music and subculture. And, with my tongue firmly stuck to my cheek, I observe how I am  still  a baby bat! I'm young enough to still be called a "baby" at shows and club nights yet old enough to recall, with deep nostalgia, vying for a spot directly in front of the stage at my first Peter Murphy show nearly 10 years ago at a now-relocated venue in Atlanta... I also remember with fondness—and some embarrassment—writing a cliché poem for Peter Murphy, referring to him as the "original Bat." And, instead of keeping it to myself, I actually threw the typed poem up onto the stage directly following the show, hoping he'd pick it up and keep it in his breast pocket. Ah, the folly of youth! I don't recall there ever being this many bands of the goth or goth-adjacent persuasion playing in Atlanta since I got into the subculture. That's not to say there weren't plenty of bands playing this city. I only f...
2 comments
Read more

The Obituary Challenge

I've been working in The Writing Studio at Georgia State today, when a worried student came in for some assistance. She was assigned to write an obituary for her Journalism class. This obituary was to be written about the professor of her course. I'd never heard of anyone assigning something like this (probably because it's morbid), but it's very practical to learn for Journalism. From there, I had an idea. I thought what a good tag/challenge it would be for fellow bloggers to write an obituary about themselves. (not to mention a bit of morbid fun) So, Here's the rules: Link back to whoever tagged you. Put these rules in your tag.  Write an obituary about yourself (it can be as funny or as serious as you like). Write about a paragraph or two (or more if necessary) in length. You may tag up to 10 people, and be sure to link to them. Have fun, because creative writing is one of the greatest joys in life!   My Obituary:  Katie, age 18, perished on Septembe...
12 comments
Read more

Devil's Turnaround

Noonday Missionary Baptist Church's Cemetery is also known as "Devil's Turnaround." It is located along a little back road in Kennesaw, Georgia, and most of the graves are scattered in the woods. It is easy to miss, but some of the gravestones are visible from the road. The cemetery has graves from the 1860's. I wouldn't doubt that some of its occupants were slaves at one time. Many say the land is haunted by malevolent spirits who hurl objects and make physical contact--shoving, scratching, and even biting visitors. I could understand why any lingering spirits might be upset: These grounds have been terribly neglected. Much of the graves are broken and toppled over. Some are barely visible through the overgrowth of ivy and weeds. People also say the root of the haunting may be related to rumored cult rituals performed on the property. Located right by the cemetery are huge power lines (high voltage transmission lines). I could hear them b...
7 comments
Read more