Three factors contributed to most of my childhood nightmares. The first was ‘The Price is Right.’ (I still can’t watch game shows. The blinking lights, fake smiles, and over enthusiastic contestants creep me out.)
The second was the song ‘Tom’s Diner’ by Suzanne Vega. (It used to play on the radio as I was falling asleep every night and gives me the willies to this day)
And the third was the 1985 movie version of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. (haven’t watched it in forever, but I have a feeling it’s even more messed up than my memory will allow me to recall) - Sure, the made up words, confusing worlds, and actors who purposely bugged their eyes out (without digital enhancement) was enough to make my kiddie stomach do flip flobs. But then came:
The Jabberwocky.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
-Lewis Caroll 1872
In a world where nothing is as it seems and you can’t be sure of anything, adding a creepy monster to the mix (who, according to experts, can also be interpreted as anything worth running from) is enough to send a seven year old over the edge.
What random things freaked you out as a kid?
