Fright Night. Of Pets and Tornadoes

I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California. We have earthquakes, not tornadoes. At least until last night. 

We had four warnings (if you count the afternoon) that came across the television making us look at each other with concern. However, there wasn't any wind and yeah, so we had a little hail and thunder. Tornadoes do not happen here and we began to wonder about the weather people.  

Are they nuts?

My son was out checking on some property when this tornado skipped along the back pasture throwing an oak tree on top of Cut and Curl, one of the shops inside a little mall in our area--along with various other debris you can see hanging in the air. 

When he called I didn't believe him. He gave me his e-mail addy and his password so I could bring up the picture. I was humbled at the power of mother nature and grateful no one was hurt. 

Many thanks to the universe for keeping us safe. 

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The next book on my October Read list is PET SEMATARY by Stephen King. If you haven't read it, you should. That is, if  you want a good scare. I don't recommend the movie because it sucked. Though it did have its shares of scariness. However it cannot compare with what your mind can conjure (at least in my opinion). 

PET SEMATARY is a book that gave me the worst three days of my life. It is one of King's early novels, but it is still one of his best. 

From the creepy burial of  the Creed's family cat to the funky family dynamics, this novel is wine and chocolate worthy. Being that it is October, turn off the television and light a fire. Even if you've read Pet Sematary before, it is still worth picking up again.  

 The Creed family moves from Chicago to Bangor, Maine. Dr. Louis Creed has taken a position at the local college where he is sure he will experience less stress--at least until he meets a ghost who tries to warn him about the Pet Sematary. He throws off his hallucination as stress and settles into his new home with his wife and children. Ellie is a precocious child that loves her old cat, Church. Gage is an engaging two year-old that charms everyone. 

The house is perfect. Plenty of room for the children to roam and even extra land for tree houses and slides. There's only one problem, a narrow two lane road that runs in front of the house. But the house is set back a bit and the Creed's are sure that if their rambunctious two year-old gets out of hand they'll be able to catch him before he reaches the road. 

Shortly after the move, the Creed's meet their neighbors across the street, the Crandalls', a nice old couple that seem like the perfect people. Judd Crandall worries about the road and recounts the number of animals that have been struck and killed by trucks. And not just any trucks, great, big, semis.

 Louis discovers a path behind the house and asks Judd about it. Judd, reluctantly leads Louis and his daughter, Ellie up to.... the pet sematary. 

The misspelling is written over the entrance to the cemetery--hence its name. 

It's a strange place, where rocks circle the graves and strange  moans are heard beyond the tree canopy.   It is said that if a beloved animal is buried here, the pet will return. 

Of course the legend does not say HOW the animal will return or in what shape. And of course, Judd has experience. He buried a dog there once.  

A large treefall covers part of the path and Judd warns Louis not to cross. The path that continues on is just too dangerous.  
The place beyond the tree is where the Micmac buried their dead. A special burial ground that has existed beyond memory. 

Eventually, Ellie's cat, Church, is killed on the road--struck by a semi and flattened pretty badly. Louis buries the cat in the animal burial ground, covering the grave exactly the same as the others. He knows the legend is silly, but this is for his little girl. His Ellie.

That night, Church returns. Not only is Church one of the walking dead,he stinks, and the malevolent stare is enough to put off anyone. 

Then it happens, Gage runs into the road and is killed by a passing truck. 

Will Louis take his son to the burial grounds?

What will Gage be like when he returns? 

Louis sends his wife and daughter back to visit his in-laws. And the rest of the story continues....

For several years after reading Pet Sematary I had nightmares of giant black dogs chasing me down the street. Not cats, dogs. I really don't know why, but the novel struck a cord in me that woke up one of my Jungian archetypes. 

One better left asleep. 

So be prepared, have fun, sip some wine, and eat some chocolate. You're in for a horror-ride that makes the Tower of Terror in Disneyland look like child's play. 

Happy Reading!

Louann

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