What really scares us …
“I’m not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels. I’m afraid of what human beings do to other real human beings.” ~Walter Jon Williams
Spooky season is here. Driving through our neighborhood this month, I’ve noticed block after block of homes decked out with creative Halloween decorations. I get a little thrill every time I spot a porch aglow with orange and purple lights or a family of skeletons gathered on someone’s front lawn.
And in my email, I’m getting long lists of films to watch this season. From the witchy Practical Magic to classic Alfred Hitchcock thrillers and John Carpenter’s Halloween, there’s something for everyone.
As today’s timely quote reminds us, the real world can be a scary place — any time of the year. Psychologists suggest that ghost stories and horror films empower us to face fear and anxiety while we battle our own monsters and demons. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
