Bumps in the night

I have a confession to make.


Ready?


Lean in close.


*whisper* I'm afraid of the dark.

It's true. Well, I'm not so much afraid of the dark as I am of the THINGS that might be in the dark.

It started when I was little when I made my parents keep my door cracked and the hall light on.

As I got older, it's gotten better. I no longer need a night light.

(Well not ALL the time anyways...)

But anyhow! I've gotten better.


Really.

I still can get a little crazy when I have to walk out to my car in the morning. And this morning was the day I dreaded. Not only is it super hella dark outside but it's so cold now that my drive is icy. Which means I have to park further from the door Which, in turn, means I have to walk farther in the dark.

Next to the woods.

Where there are scary noises.

Now. I know that it's various critters in the woods and not flesh eating zombies. But a small, itsy bitsy part of me knows there's something lurking in the dark just waiting for the opportune moment to jump out and scare the bajeezus out of me! And maybe eat me.

I don't know. I mean I know that's not true Kinda. I want to believe it's not true. But my distant caveman brain says otherwise.

So what warped me?

What might I blame for my skittishness?

Surely not all the episodes of Twilight Zone, In Search Of or Alfred Hitchcock movies watched at a tender age. And most certainly not any of the Friday the 13ths, Nightmares on Elmstreets or Poltergeist movies.

Noooooo!

Nor would it be the Ouiji board seances that my friends held. Or even the late night sleep over Bloody Mary/Mary Blue Water conjuring escapades. Or even the tales of hooked handed insane people killing love struck teens or campers told round a campfire.

Couldn't be!

And what's made me relapse recently?

Not Walking Dead.

Nah! Can't give that show up!

So while I will tell myself that the real threat would more likley come from some meth head wandering in the neighborhood ; my small animal brain will throw images of aliens and zombies up everytime a turkey or raccoon walks in the woods.

And that is why I will continue to win the world record sprint from my front door to my car.

God help the poor morning neighbor that might get in my path.