Magic

Less than a year ago I was at my Aunt's house visiting with relatives from out of town, and the conversation turned to Haunchy Town.

Haunchy Town is a local legend about a group of midgets that ran away from the Circus and created their own little sized town. The signs are supposedly half sized... the houses small .... and the miniature world is a heavily guarded secret locked behind a huge gate, guarded by a normal sized man with a shotgun.

There is something pretty interesting ,in a lurid sort of way, about the whole thing ... I can see the appeal.

-but- the conversation continued, everyone was joking and laughing, and Goggle maps was brought up on the computer (trying to catch a glimpse of the town) .... and then I was lost .... things bounced from ghosts to aliens to Haunchy Town, Landing on the Witch lady.

I first heard about the Witch Lady in High school. A friend of mine was planning to bring her Ouija board to the Witches house on Halloween (that was the tradition). I was interested in the story of the witch lady... and her huge demonic statues and the mysterious rituals people saw her preforming at night.....killing cats.... chanting........ The stories had a creepy vibe... and I found it enjoyable to indulge in the spooky story of a witch's house. I , even now, see the thrill behind over coming your fears enough to walk down a dark winding road , and touch and see with your own eyes, a piece of mystery.

-but-

When I was in College I met the Witch Lady. She was a wonderful artist named Mary Nohl. My History of sculpture class was invited to her house because the instructor had met her while collecting shells on the beach of Lake Michigan.

Her home was amazing inside and out. There were large sculptures on the lawn ( .... not demonic in any way .... no dead cats on stone altars) inside every surface was affected by her hands. Lamps were covered by collections of bottle glass and shells .... life size jute humans hung on the walls..... there were designs and patterns everywhere. It was wonderful and obsessive and it was amazing stepping into such a personal space. It felt very intimate....and it inspired me.

The topic of being The Witch Lady came up while we were there.... and it made me very sad. She hated it ....people sneaking into her yard sometimes breaking off chunks of the sculptures so they could own a piece of the local legend... she felt resented by her neighbors because of the traffic and spectacle her creations caused....

So back to my family gathering, I mention that I met her.

There is initially excitement," You met the Witch Lady!" and then a sharp drop off when I go into further detail.

I tell them my story ... I tell them that I believe that she died recently, but that portions of her house are on display at the Kohler art center .... and since the lap top was out they confirm it..... and then the conversation ends with disappointment, the mystery was solved. So they switch back to Haunchy Town, to regain the enjoyable mysterious tone, that can only be maintained with unanserable questions .

I will admit I am a kill joy... I have been in the unfortunate position many times of bringing the room down with my scepticism... and I don't much like my role .... I don't want to be dishonest and play along.... but I kind of hate it when my comments snap people out of the game they are playing.(asobu) there is an enjoyment I just absolutely slaughter. ...............and I get a bit defensive myself. When I said once that I didn't believe in anything supernatural I was halted by a comment from my Uncle ...."That's a shame".

so instead of defining what meant I snapped back with "why".

The conversation ended. Had I not been so sensitive it could have continued. I could go on with the ways I wish I were different when I speak to my family.... how I am afraid that I am snide, and forceful with my opinions.... and a little too self absorbed to let people complete their thoughts. -----But I want to get away from this self critique and get back to my point.

They had wanted to find the Witch's house.... but became uninterested when a fascinating but tangible individual was offered to them.... Plans to hunt down her house were scrapped when they found out it's location. I found that .... unsettling.

I think sometimes ..... because of how I approach most topics , people assume I lack a sense of wonder or magic . I don't believe I do.

I think there is a value in imagining what hides in the unknown shadows.... I enjoy speculation, and complete intricate invention. I Love fiction... and metaphor. But I don't need to give spectacular mysteries like Jesus or Big Foot more credibility than they deserve, and I get very squeamish when people insist that there is hard evidence for their existence. Then my whimsy stops in its tracks. If I am presented with a fact I discern it. I qualify it. I judge it. When I am given a concept or a story I indulge in it .... I run with it as far as I mentally can. So lately I have been sticking with fiction.

Maybe some people need to hold onto the idea that there is a reality to these stories, so that they can get involved in them. Maybe I am being foolish.

I loved Big Foot Stories when I was a kid ..... and Aliens ...and Ghosts and especially Loch Ness Monster!!!! .... and now as an adult ?---- I am interested, until I see a plaster cast of a foot come out.... then I see deception and fraud. Unfortunately some of those old areas of interest have become less yummy.

Maybe believing testimonials, and facts with out questioning them too much when just a little indulgent fun is on the line is normal. Perhaps I'm am wound way too fucking tight bringing the same brain I use for everything else to these sorts of subjects. I have difficulty taking things lightly.
.....but ......truthfully.........
 I am OK with how I see things.