My Salem Happenings

OMG, what is wrong with the people in Salem?

I awoke as par usual expecting a strange day in Salem, and strange is exactly what I got!

I talked straight away with Jason. He’s still very perturbed with me and is absolutely convinced that this day will be my last on this planet. Silly goose, I ain’t going nowhere. I attempt to calm him, after all, I am immortal, right? Being a witch, I will simply grab my broom and ride above the super storm until it abates and then, I will land gently back down on the blessed earth and continue on my blissful way here in Salem. Right? Well, Jason is not convinced knowing that I would never be able to get my fat ass off the ground. Broom or no broom, this ass ain’t going nowhere. I then assure Jason that nothing will be amiss as this day goes forward. I am sure of it. I then call my bestie, Dash, and leave an assuring message and now I will be on my way.

As there is no rain and wind that I can see so far, I decide to go out and about in Salem. I suppose that the storm will not get here until this evening so I take the opportunity to go have lunch at Red’s.

The streets are deserted. Everyone is in hiding. The Pedestrian Mall looks so strange being empty of tourists this time of year. I make my way over to Red’s. As I enter, it now becomes my first ever crappy experience at Red’s. I walk in and there is the absence of the friendly greeting I’ve grown accustomed to in this establishment. Actually no one says a word and no one will meet my eyes with theirs. Odd. I feel oddly alone. I sit at the first . . . what do you call it? You know, those little diner things. It’s where all the single folks sit to eat, you know, like eating at a counter. Oh gawd, I don’t know. Whatever the shit it’s called, I sat down at it. So I sit here and wait and wait. No one will look at me. No one will acknowledge my presence. I try to meet someone’s eyes and they seem to be looking at a spot in the middle of my forehead. They look but they aren’t looking at me like meeting my eyes. Still no one comes forward to wait on me. Odd. I know I’m not invisible, at least not yet! This goes on for some minutes and by now I’m feeling uncomfortable. I look around and the restaurant is pretty much empty. Now that’s a clue. There is a couple of people over there eating and talking with their waitress about being stranded in Salem. Well, good gawd almighty, I’m stranded here too . . . and being totally ignored at Red’s? At Red’s? As I’m sure you must surmise by now, I have had this same experience before on this crazy trip. So, finally one good-hearted lady comes over to me and moves me over to her section and my every wish is her desire. Bless her heart. She is so nice to me. She knows what all those bitches are doing to me. It is now a game to me so I try several times to catch the eyes of the Cashier and she just won’t do it. She knows I’m trying to catch her eyes but the silly bitch absolutely refuses! Fire the bitch! I don’t know why I’m surprised at this turn of events. My personal waitress brings everything I want and need, even fussing over me and making sure my leftovers are wrapped up nice and snug. She tells me that I might need it later when the storm rolls in. Oh how I love the sound of that. I’m so excited! She pats me and sends me on my merry way and she got one hell of a big tip from me! And no, in case you are wondering, the Cashier never looked at me. Even while taking my money, not one glimpse. Crazy, silly bitch. People like me pay your fucking salary! Not a very bright bitch indeed….

Okay out, it has begun to rain! I debate. Should I go back to the hotel or hit CVS one more time for some junk food. At this point, I don’t know what the hell is going to happen tonight with this storm and all. I seriously try to not think of what could happen with this storm. I’m just not going there. Not now. I’m not normally a chicken shit bitch, but there is a small part of me that is literally freaking out! I can hear this loud screeching noise somewhere inside me. Some part of me is having a hissy fit. What if? What if, you? Ahh, the unknown. I love the unknown but somehow right now I don’t! Man, I’m not scared. I ain’t scared of nothing! Hmmm, I’m not convincing myself at all. Do you do that? Argue with yourself? I do and I always win. Hee!

Okay, get real. Here I am, utterly alone, 1,600 miles from home. Do you know how far that is? I’m almost in Canada and I live in Texas on the Gulf Coast! That’s one hell of a long way! And I got this monster storm on its way. I should be scared. And somewhere inside me, I am scared as hell! But I don’t own it. If I did, I would lose my mind. Don’t you just love these predicaments I get myself into? Makes me feel like Lucy! But really, look at that storm. This is what Jason is freaking out over. It does look like I’m under the thick middle of it up here doesn’t it? Yup, I’m right under the thick middle of it.

So now I make my way on over to CVS. This CVS has been my safe haven many times during my past trips to Salem. I remember one Halloween here in Salem, I was so friggin’ cold that I stepped into CVS just to get warm. I wasn’t staying in Salem at the time and I had nowhere to get warm. I walked around and acted like I was shopping. Oh the warmth felt so good, like a warm blankie being wrapped around me. Anyway, I go on in and pick up a few more things. The employees are complaining because they can’t leave early because of the storm and all. And the mystery of why I was treated so badly at Red’s is solved. They were trying to leave! If they didn’t want any customers in there, why didn’t they just lock the door? They close at 3:00 pm anyway! They were just being bad ass bitches. Not a very nice way to treat people that are stranded in their city a long way from home with no where to go.

I now step out of CVS and it’s raining, hard. There’s wind. Like I’ve said many times before, Salem weather will kick your ass and now with this storm? Lord almighty, it’s going to get real tonight! Standing here under this awning, I tighten up my act. Crazy thing this, I actually have on a hoodie under my floor-length coat. Dang, I’m going to need it now. My stupid umbrella gave up the ghost a long time ago. It simply turned inside out and died. I hope I don’t do that! Anyway, pull up my hood, make sure my camera is tucked snugly under my coat, pull everything in close and walk. I do believe the storm is beginning. It’s quite a long walk from here to my hotel. So I decide to take the long way back. Why? Because everything in Salem is an “event” to me and I will savor the long walk back in this weather. I will never have this opportunity again – never. So off I go. Wow, this is tough going. I’m getting soaked but I don’t care. I’m loving it! Looking around, it seems that I’m the only one out here. There are cars going by but I don’t see another soul. I’m the only maniac out here enjoying this bad ass weather. Love it! Did I say I love it? Oh there, I see my hotel now. I see the lights, it’s beginning to get dark. Oh rapture! Yes, my hotel with the Salem Harbour behind it and the asshole inside. Dang, walk, walk, walk and walk. I’m kind of wanting to get there at this point. This wind is kicking my ass and the rain…. Dang! I’m soaked … and almost there. I’m literally walking through hard rain with no umbrella, just a hood over my head. I love the experience. The hotel draws near, closer, closer, I reach for the door handle, pull and step through . . . and silence, dry, sanctuary. I am so enjoying this! I blow into the lobby, wet fall leaves flying in behind me. On up to my room. I am soaked through and through but my camera is safe and sound. That is what’s important after all.

I peel the many layers of wet clothes off and hang things around to dry. I even enjoy taking off each wet item. I believe I’ve become perfectly addled at this point. I’m not even making sense to myself. Now as I take off this last article of clothing, I jump into the shower and then put on my Halloween jammies and socks so I can be comfy cozy while I brave this big storm right here in Salem … all by myself. Oh, I feel a shiver run through me. I mean this is like crazy and I’m enjoying every minute of it!

The Weather Channel is being typically vague. They really ain’t saying a dang thing worth anything. They the hell don’t know. And they keep up with their contemporary bullshit like showing radars and shit to contemporary music. And what’s this “weather on the 8’s?” Only on the 8’s? I’m assuming they mean on the 8’s on a clock’s face, but think about it, that doesn’t make sense either.

Oh dear, I’m not acting right. Why is the Weather Channel suddenly pissing me off? I believe it’s called an absence of activity . . . for me. I mean like now I’m realizing that there’s not much for me to do but wait on the storm. Oh well, I guess I’ll busy myself and watch the water in the toilet slosh back and forth. Huh? Watch the water in the toilet slosh back and forth? What? So now I can only assume that this building is swaying back and forth. Right? Swaying with the wind, right? I’m getting a little anxious here. I look out the window. It’s starting to get dark. Yes, it is raining and I suppose there’s some wind out there. There’s something over there next to a light pole that’s loose and swaying and clanging. Or is it the light pole itself swaying back and forth and clanging with every move? I really can’t tell but the sound is awful and annoying. Ok, yes, it’s raining pretty hard out there and it’s very windy. The conditions are failing pretty rapidly. There are a few cars that I can see but not a soul one. My window is facing the Salem electric plant and the Harbour. You can just see the mastheads of the Friendship and the unsettled water. It’s looking kind of creepy out there and you can see the white caps being blown up on the water.

Yup, looking pretty creepy out this way as well….

Oh, shit yeah, what a perfect time for a horror movie! Let me dim the lights a bit, turn the TV down some so I can hear the sounds of the storm, pop me some corn, grab a coke and snuggle up in the chair and watch the monster marathon. After all, it’s almost Halloween and AMC is loaded tonight! I think I’ll have a glass of wine. I got it at a little witch shop and it’s called “Wicked.” Well, no shit, right? Yup, a glass of wine, that’s the ticket! It doesn’t take much to make me happy … Frankenstorm, Salem and me!

So here I am engrossed in the movie, feeling warm from the wine and I watch intently as the lights begin to flicker. Huh? The lights? Ok, now I didn’t figure that into the equation. My mind races forward. Ok, no electricity. Did I write this into the story? No, I most certainly did not. I never even thought to buy a candle until now. Gawd, I know better! If these lights go out, it will be pitch black in here. *Looking this way and that* Jason? Dash? Hmmmmm. I suddenly feel better about the Hotel staff being down there. At least I’m not alone. I’m sure they’ve been through this type of thing many times. Oh how I hate being happy that the asshole is probably down there and worse, I may need his help. Just goes to show, you’ve got to be careful how you treat people because you might need them someday. I may need him. What a wicked thing to ponder. I go over and stand by the window looking out. The street lights are on. That’s a good sign. It’s raining hard and the wind is pretty heavy. The rain is coming down in sheets. It’s not like the Hawthorne where you can hear the wind in the eaves. Surprisingly, you can’t hear a thing from outside. This building is pretty sturdy. So to avoid having to be concerned about the lights going out, I will just go to bed. Pitch all the pillows to the floor and grab my little flat one . . . the vampire is at rest. Nighty night freakies!