Well, today is the day of the annual Halloween Ball here at the Hawthorne Hotel. It is a big deal here in Salem. As for my day, I’ve decided to go in search of gifts to take back to my family. Shopping in Salem is very fun. Too bad I not only have a money limit but I have to be mindful of how much I buy. Lord almighty, I can’t afford to take home another suitcase! I will never get over the fees that Continental Airlines charges for checked baggage. A fee for a fee for a fee ….. shit!
Anyway I bathe and dress and go out to see my beautiful Salem yet again. I still am worried about leaving. I have been crying off and on the whole time I’ve been here fretting about having to leave. What is it about this place? What the fuck is Salem to me? I can’t figure it out. The psychic lady who did my reading didn’t think I ever lived here before in a past life. What the hell does she know? What the fuck is it about Salem? It drives me crazy and it’s very real to me. When I’m in Salem, this whole “thing” comes over me. The feeling is so real especially when I’m in the Old Burying Point cemetery. That’s where it’s the strongest. I find it significant that the only major “spirit photo” I got was in the Old Burying Point cemetery last year. When I’m in the cemetery, I feel this incredible heaviness in my chest. I feel I’m being watched or that they (they?) want to tell me something. I feel this real heavy weight settle all around me. 
I feel more than compelled to touch the trees especially the largest ancient tree that you see here. And do I touch it? You bet your sweet bippy I do (what the fuck is a bippy?)! I think I've mentioned this before in this blog but dammit, I mean it! I went over to the Howard Street cemetery the other day and I felt no such thing. I loved the cemetery with the squirrels and jail and all but I just don't feel anything there. Of course, I can't get in the cemetery so that is a bit off putting but this all is very strange. I really wish I could know what's going on with me and Salem. How do I find out? Does anyone know?
I head on out in search of gifts and I decide to eat at the Coven. Now doesn’t that name just piss some of you off? **Lots of Laughter** It’s not a place to go worship the devil as some of you think. The Coven is a very cool little coffee shop/cafe type place. I order coffee and “The Criminal.” “Excellent choice” the young guy says and yes, it was very good. It was an egg on a toasted crossiant. Whoa, what an idea! Not really. Fact is I like it very much and I love my surroundings even more. To me, everything in Salem is “an event.” Every little thing I do is special. Well for crap’s sake, here come the tears again. What an ass I am! Anyway, on this day, I shot some great video of dear Salem and I’ll try to show you if I can figure out how to convert the damn videos. Thanks JVC …. and this is a completely differant story (rant) for later!
Ok, I have a particular shop in mind for a couple of gifts but damn, there’s a line to get in! Dang tourists (tee hee)! I guess I will stand in line. Why not? It’s Saturday in Salem and it’s perfect! The shop is cool if a little uppity but a lot of shops (and people) are like that here. It’s okay with my cuz I’ve been accused of the same thing many times in my life. I’ve been told also that I write way different than I act in public. Whew, that’s a good thing! Can you imagine?! I’d be chasing people down trying to put them in my morgue and then I would write rude things about them! Hee! Anyway back, I go through the shop. It’s a spooky/witch shop. Lots of spooky/witch things but there’s some interesting stuff as well. I’ve been accused of being a witch many, many times in my life … even as a child. The mean kids in school called me “Morticia.” The “Addams Family” was popular when I was a kid. But, you know what? Looking around this shop, I don’t have a clue what to do with most of this stuff. I don’t even know what most of it is but some of it looks real interesting and other stuff looks real meaningful except I don’t really know the meaning. I buy a $2.50 Mood Ring and leave that place. At least I know what a Mood Ring does!
I go in other shops and see things that I really want to buy. This place here has a really cool selection of Ouija Boards both old and new. There’s one exactly like the one we played with in my childhood. There’s new, modern ones as well. I would really like to buy one but I have been SO warned against them that I’m afraid to. What if it makes the plane crash? This little toy board made by Parker Brothers … a toy company? Which brings me to an interesting fact right here in Salem. There’s some apartments here that are built on the land where Parker Brothers had their business and this is where they made what? The Ouija Board! Ok, that’s cool, right? Truth! Really!
Alright, wandering down the Pedestrian Mall and there’s my favorite bronze witch statue. I think I would return to Salem year after year just to watch her work the crowd as a statue! Her costume is fabulous and I have learned that she designed and made it herself. The costume she had last year was different but they are both excellent. She really does look like a bronze statue …. an 8 foot tall bronze statue! She’s really good with the people and she makes her living totally from tips. She’s got this eccentric little witch sound she makes when you drop some money in her cauldron and I’ve seen people put money in there over and over and over just to get her to make that sound. Then she kisses at you and this is a very personal and sweet gesture and the people love it! She plays with people, of course, stealing their hats and giving them away to other people. She’ll stand very still like a statue and bop you on the head as you walk by. Sometimes she will be very still and someone will get up very close to her looking to see if she’s real and she will move ever so slightly and scare the crap out of them. Too funny! This girl is a part of Salem and she earns her money. Once she gets up on her step-ladder and gets settled, she will stand there 10 hours or more a day, not getting down … not even to pee. I don’t know how she does it. I pee about every hour. I’d be screwed! I salute her and she’s my friend on Facebook! Ain’t I something? (Right)
So looking around. I do finally find the gifts I want. Love buying things in Salem. I guess I should get back to my room. I’m planning to be late to the Ball tonight. Tonight on ABC Family on TV, they are having a back-to-back showing of the movie “Hocus Pocus.” A double feature! Oh rapture! As you know, “Hocus Pocus” was filmed right here in Salem and I’ve had such fun here walking around and finding the locations where they filmed. When I used to watch the movie years ago (and I watched it over and over but didn’t have a clue as to why), I never dreamed I’d actually be in Salem someday watching it. Goes to show, you just never know!
Okay, watching “Hocus Pocus” and getting ready for the Ball that’s being held downstairs. I’m slathering on my witchy makeup. Does every damn thing have to be about a witch for cripes sake?! Yes indeedy! You are probably wondering, how does she go to a Halloween Ball all by herself? How indeed! I just get my shit in order and I frickin’ go! I do have my camera, of course. A camera is the ticket. It can be a companion and is for me. It’s my excuse for being there in the first place naturally. My excuse to “be.” Now, off to the Ball! Back in a bit!
Okay, my gawd, I’m in my room after the Ball. I’ve had 2 drinks and I’m feeling very tipsy. I never drink, 2 drinks and I’m such a wimp! Well, my beautiful hat and cape did the trick. I was a hit with a couple of guys. One was the guy 2 rooms down. He was haunting me meaning everytime I looked up, he was standing close to me. It became a game to me sort of. I would move on purpose to see if he would show up in my vicinity yet again and damn he appeared everytime! It did my heart good to be getting the attention from a man again. Then I wandered into the main ballroom and I fell absolutely in love. There was this guy in there. We were so drawn to each other! He was young, in his thirties, and he was with a date. We first encountered each other while we were trying to make our way through the crowd. For one brief moment, the people stopped and he and I were left looking at each other face-to-face and holy Jesus … an enchanted moment! Then the crowd moved on. We came together again one more time and it was downright, in your face attraction. It could have been love for us. I know it! But alas, I moved on and went to my room, a bit tipsy and thinking how happy I was to have had that experience with both of those guys. I knew I was too old for the young one but how sweet it was to think of it …. and him! The other guy? I heard him and his wife screaming at each other when they came back from the ball. I hope I didn’t cause that!
Tomorrow is Halloween!
Janet
When I arrived, I called as instructed and said I was ready to be picked up. The guy on the other end was frantic, spouting out instructions and directions to me – someone who didn’t have a clue where in the hell she was – on foot, lost and from Texas for crap’s sake! I gathered that I was supposed to meet the Van at a specific intersection somewhere in Salem. Hmmmm. I began walking and found a policeman directing traffic. I said, “See, look, I’m from Texas and I’m pissed and lost and I need to get to such and such intersection.” The policeman was nice and helpfully – eagerly even – pointed the way …. down a dark, spooky street to my left. 
At least I walked the right direction! I look down the street and it’s all houses – old houses – on both sides with some having people lurking around the porches. I’m not scared of ghosts but I am scared of people so I am not liking the idea of walking down there for a couple of blocks. Anyway, here I go, a very perturbed, somewhat overweight witch still dressed up in all her witchy best about to walk down a street that at this moment looks like it’s probably the scariest street in Salem. Oh, I’m so far from home – a totally solitary witch at this point. So I walk …. down the very middle of the street. What a sight I must have been! I’m peering at the houses as I go making sure no ghosts or zombies come running out. I am in Salem after all and Halloween has just ended. So I walk and I finally reach the intersection. There are no street signs. Now I’m not going to go into this here but why oh why are there never street signs when your life absolutely depends on it?! I do see two groups of people standing on either side of the street. I assume these are my people and choose the group that has the nicest looking lady standing there. So we wait, and wait under this huge tree. The lady and I speak. She has about as much information as I do but at least she’s a human presence for me. We wait and then it begins to rain. Salem has great weather. It happens when you least expect it. And there goes a cold wind. I have been in Salem long enough to know that you don’t take cold breezes lightly. So me and my beautiful hat are getting soaked and it will only be a matter of time before we are freezing as well. And I have no where to go, no way to get there. I see in front of me two guys from my hotel jumping into a cab and driving away. They could have offered to share that cab …. and fare …. with some of us. I would have. I’m from Texas. We wait, we get wet, we get nervous. And then alas, two Vans show up! We are elated and run and lurch to said heaven-sent Vans …. and neither are going to our hotel. The hell you say! Our group that had gathered were in no mood to hear this and quite literally jacked up both drivers and piled our asses into the Vans whether they liked it or not. “Now ***pointing gun at driver’s head*** if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get your skinny ass moving to Beverly!” And he did! We were packed in like sardines, soaking wet and stinking but we managed a civilized conversation during our ride.
I felt bad for him because he really put a lot of effort into his costume. I knew exactly who he was even without the scissor hands. That made him happy that at least people knew who he was trying to portray. As I’m sure you are wondering why, the people in Salem take their Halloween costumes very seriously and besides that the Ball was really expensive! The band was excellent and they rocked the night away. And one more thing about the Ball, I don’t know how many of you have attended a Halloween Ball completely alone but it is really not a good experience. When I took a moment to look around at all the people, I felt a bit fearful at being among all these strangers. I didn’t know a soul and each face somehow looked scary to me. Oh well, it was Halloween after all and everyone gets a scare, right? Right!
My Salem Happenings 