My family has a cabin and property on West Lake Okoboji in NW Iowa and has since the late 1920's. There was an amusement park there, also a relic from the history of the place. Both the cabin and the park have been re-done since my grandparent's day but the memories linger on. One of my most dreaded childhood fears is that of clowns. And it's all because of a creepy animatronic clown over the funhouse at the park. I can remember screaming bloody murder as my dad held me up so I could see that nasty, evil thing as it swayed from side to side playing it's little decrepit piano. I'm not sure if my dad was doing it because he had a mean streak or because he was trying to show me it was harmless. When it's head would turn and look right at me, I just knew it was pure evil!! ... just typing this I'm getting all creeped out and feeling that oooogie feeling you feel when you're direly afraid. I WILL get a picture of this clown (yeah, it's still there at the park museum, but you can't take cameras in the building) with my cell phone this summer. I'll make a trip to the park just for that purpose. Well, I'll probably snag some black walnut salt water taffy while I'm there, but only to help keep my resolve to get a picture of this demonic clown.
My favorite t-shirt saying...
I've been justified in my fear of clowns over the years. Just look at the bad guy in Stephen King's "It".
It was a creepy, cackling clown played in the movie by Tim Curry...I was a bit upset with Tim, him being my fave in Rocky Horror and all...
...but an actor has to eat I guess. But NOT CHILDREN, Tim!!!
Then there was the infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy, The Killer Clown, who lured children in by posing as a clown named Pogo. Is he totally creepy or what?
I don't want to be funny about this one, but if those kids would have just had an inherent fear of clowns...well, maybe Mr. Gacy wouldn't have had any victims, instead of the 25 he killed.
Then there's practically the worst of all.
How many kids have been lured in by the promise of fun and happiness by that dude?? Fun and happiness=fat and sluggishness, high cholesterol, shortened life span...YIKES!
Anyway, you get the picture...all proof that CLOWNS ARE BAD!!! What prompted me to write this blog post today was Stumbling Upon this photo website about childhood fears.
This is the photo that caught my attention...
...I just wanted to scream..."Run little girl!!!!" Totally freaks me out.
Aw, Ginni, I'm sorry you have this fear...
ReplyDeleteI never liked for a clown to speak to me when I was a kid, but that's because, as a kid, I was super shy and didn't like attention called to myself. Especially by strangers.
However, I do have a strange fascination with clowns, especially scary ones like in "It" - that's my favorite Stephen Book of all. And though I didn't really like a lot of the movie, I thought Tim Curry was the perfect clown, he's got such talent.
But I do understand that it's a real and sometimes debilitating fear. There's a young boy at our church who absolutely panics when he sees a clown. I was with him once when he did, and it was heartrending.
XOXO to you, girlfriend!
Sis
Gin, I think children with this fear must be really intuitive and sense that masks are hiding something. So your fear may have really been a strength.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're writing about it. That's half the battle.
And did you have to mention black walnut taffy? I never did send to that place for any.
One of my best friends is a clown, and he respects and understands the fear that some have. He has done wonderful work with fire prevention assemblies in the schools until his retirement a few years ago.
ReplyDelete