Spare Change/Double Scare

In honor of Halloween, I've been writing this month about different scary moments in my life, like the scary or weird dreams I've been having and my experiences at various "haunted houses."

I neglected to write last week because I was dealing with something that is far scarier to me than nightmares and fake frights; it's Change.  I found out I was going to be losing the job I have had for over four years.  While I had until December to find something else, it didn't deter the fact that I was going to be thrown back out into the job market.  Many of my family and friends were supportive and excited for me, reminding me to look at this as a good thing and to find something I was passionate about.

What I'm passionate about is a stable and predictable routine.  I had gotten so comfortable with working from home, doing the same menial tasks I have done for so long, that it outright terrified me that I would have to adjust and, dare I say it, actually try to do something that I went to school for and cared about.  

All the comments and questions emerged from my Voice of Insecurity.  What if no one wants you?  You don't have any skills.  What if all you can find are jobs that will make you miserable?  You're not going to be able to make any money.  What if you are not good enough?  These thoughts kept me up at night, socked me in my gut first thing in the morning, or came trudging forward like a freight train whenever I had a moment's peace.

Thankfully, I wasn't left twisting in the wind for too long.  I went on two job interviews and was offered both jobs.  The first was a non-salary insurance sales position and the other was a marketing and copy writing trainee position for a nutritional supplement company.  After considering it, I was excited to accept the trainee job, which will start in about a week.  There I hope to cultivate my research and writing skills, as well as increase my social and career possibilities.  I'm still nervous about starting something new, but as my new boss said, he wouldn't have hired me on the spot if he didn't think I could do it.  And he's right.  So I'm going to just stamp down the negative thoughts, have some faith in myself and my abilities, and tally forth.  

Well, that's all well and good, but that's no way to end a Halloween month of stories.  Here are the two freakiest things that have ever happened to me....(muah ha ha ha...)

1.)  The Crow

It was one of those rare afternoons when I was home all by myself- a special thing in a household of six. I was barely a teenager when I was flipping through the channels in my parents' bedroom, finally settling on Alfred Hitchcock's classic "The Birds".  It had already started but I decided to give it a watch, since I had heard about it so often.  I had just gotten to the scene when Tippi Hedren was hiding in the telephone booth as various birds slammed bloodily into the sides, when the station went to a commercial and I went downstairs for a snack.

As I perused the kitchen, I heard the sound of a loud tap coming from the dining room.  It wasn't totally steady, but it was unusual, not sounding like a tree branch.  I stepped into the room which had a wide glass window looking out to our front patio, and saw a big black crow perched on the banister outside.  I blinked hard and suddenly the thing took flight and once again made the loud rapping noise as it's beak made contact with the glass window.  I held my breath, terror shooting down my back and arms, when it repeated it's trajectory once more before finally giving up and flitting away.  

I ran back upstairs and quickly changed the channel.  I still have never seen the rest of "The Birds".

2.)  A Little Night Music

Back in college I was living with my girlfriends Ashley, Bethany and Tiffany.  We had semi-regular schedules back then, but once in a while, being music majors, one of them would be cramming and rehearsing for a performance they had to give as part of their grade, using the stereo to play music.  One night I was trying to fall asleep when I suddenly heard the sound of opera music coming from our living room.  It sounded as if it was getting louder and louder.

Grumpy from being kept awake, I remember wishing in my head that whoever was playing the music would turn off the stereo and go to bed already!  Just then, my wish came true, and I heard the music slowly quieting down to silence.  Relieved, I finally passed out.

The next day, after classes, I came home to the apartment and found Bethany sitting on the couch.  I said my usual hellos and she stopped me.

"Hey, was that you playing music on the stereo last night?" she asked.

"What?  No, wasn't it you?" I asked, confused.  It had been so apparent to me that the only culprit could've been one of us, I didn't even think to be scared.  As we discussed it further, we noticed the switch on the wall that controlled the stereo was in the OFF position.  And since none of had fiddled with it in a while, there was no way the stereo could've been on.

From then on, I welcomed the girls to play their music as often and as loud as they liked.

Ok, so let's hear YOUR scary stories!  And Happy Halloween, Guys and Ghouls :)