Zombies = World Peace

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 00:30:04 -0400

I tried to think of something clever to say, like, “The dead will rise and overtake the blabbity blah blah”. I don’t know if I am too tired to think, or if in fact the New Jersey Zombie Walk has simply grown beyond a cutesy little tag line. It is still in its infancy and yet, in all my time here in Asbury Park, nothing, no other single event has been so completely embraced and anticipated as this one.
I think I understand why, on an innate level. It is simply, extremely cool. Not “hip” or “artsy” or any other socially predictable or deeper reason. A thousand people showing up, dipping themselves in blood and dragging their carcasses through the city is simply, cool. It just is. And fun. Let us not forget that it is okay to have fun.
Part of what makes it so cool is that Christina and Jason Meehan, the wife and husband team that have created this phenomenon have done such an amazing job that no matter how hard we look, we can not see the strings. These two are talented in so many ways, but maybe the most impressive is their attention to detail.
They have seamlessly woven so many people and things and ideas together that it hardly seems possible that this is a grass roots event, but check out their face book pages and see the boxes of zombie swag they have created piled high in their living room and you get it. They love this and they want to share it. They are doing as much as they possibly can to make the illusion complete. They prove that passion and dedication go a long way. They do not judge their event by the money they make, but by the number of people they share their event with.
I have heard many complaints since I have been in Asbury Park, most of them born of the frustration one feels when they see missed opportunities or failures that could be averted. I admit it, I am probably more guilty of these musings than many others. One of the biggest complaints is that we can not find a way to “Bridge the gap between the the Downtown and the Boardwalk”. It is, it seems, a veritable Gregorian Knot. I suppose then, it is fitting that two brain eating reanimated corpses have succeeded where all others have failed. The Zombie Walk covers both territories and rather thank trying to “Bridge the Gap”, they fill it (granted, with the walking dead) but they fill it nonetheless.
There is a lesson in all that. Probably many. They don’t choose sides. The lesson I see is that two residents from our fair city found something they love and they brought to a place they love and they gave it to all of us. And that, to me, is cool.
Go Zombies

Moonlit Nights and Walks Through The Past

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:51:11 -0400

I admit it. The ghost walk I do through Asbury Park three times a week scares me. Oh, it isn’t the phantoms sounds or smells that people report, or even the possibility of a spirit or specter joining us on the walk. No, what generally scares me is me. I want people to enjoy the walk and I hope I am up to the task of making a Friday or Saturday night fun.

I know, its just a little ghost tour in a little city in a little state, but still, it is important. I guess I feel like an ambassador to the past, someone who keeps the gate open encouraging the people of today to remember the people of yesterday. To me, your belief in ghosts or spirits or specters, or anything beyond the moment is kind of irrelevant. What is important is that we remember the people before us.

There is a moment in each tour that I either get everyone or I lose them. Generally, it is about half way through, when we stand in front of a brand new building and I talk to them about something that is long gone. I stop, and they sit or stand or mill about and I talk to them about the hundreds of thousands of people who stood at some point, where they were now standing.

The past matters. Each past matters, because each life matters. I guess that is why I feel nervous. Am I doing them justice? Those nameless thousands whose memory still haunts my little city by the sea? Are people getting it? Do they know that families started in a second spent on a swan boat under a full moon? Or that first kisses shared a hundred years ago still matter today because of the stories that grew from that little peck?

There is no monument to these moments, save the memories of generations that have long since passed over and yet, there should be. Maybe that is why my little tour matters so much to me, because it is a little monument made of words, to the quiet, fun, forgotten moments of lives long past. And maybe, because through sharing those moments and stories we create a few new special moments for ourselves.

Last week I got an email from a Dad who had taken his kids on the walk in July. He thanked me for making their time together special. His kids hadn’t stopped talking about it.

Making memories is serious business. Whew.

Redefining Paranormal

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:35:51 -0400

The word “paranormal” covers so many things. It is so flexible and yet, to each of us, I think it has a unique and rigid meaning. Perhaps that is because of a belief system, either dogmatic or organically grown. For me, paranormal has always been about the survival of self after physical death. Since Paranormal Books & Curiosities opened, my understanding of other people’s definitions has broadened, but my main focus, privately, has remained the same.

I am curious about this world and all the wild tales that it contains. I am passionate about maintaining an open mind while also satisfying my common sense. I say the same things over and over to people, “Paranormal investigations are about subtleties”.

You must be patient and you must be vigilant. Sometimes evidence is a little blip of cold air. And sometimes it’s a big flash of light, followed by another big flash of light that makes 23 people jump and holler. Yup, apparently that does happen. I know this, because it did happen last Sunday night.

I have not yet had the opportunity to go through all of the data collected on our investigation of Asbury Lanes, but I can tell you that I found the experience to be very startling and exciting. I can also tell you that my definition of paranormal has changed slightly, because while I am not prepared to say that what we experienced Sunday was proof of the survival of personality after death, I am prepared to say that it was paranormal in nature. After speaking with several people who work at the Lanes and satisfying myself that nothing mundane caused the strange lights that we saw, I am left only with the fact that they are unexplained. My gut tells me we all experienced some kind of energy that night, be it intelligent or kinetic in nature.

Hopefully, after review we will have some recorded data to share with everyone. I encourage anyone who attended to share their experiences and have them become part of the record. Check back in a week or so and see what we come up with!

Happy haunting!

Kathy

The Devil Among Us

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 23:45:34 -0400

I just got back from vacation and I am both reinvigorated and excited for the second half of the summer in Asbury Park. Not only has this summer been a great one for investigations, it has also been filled with new opportunities. As many of you know, Paranormal Books & Curiosities is expanding. It is both frightening and thrilling, and I hope you all stop by to check out our newest addition: Paranormal Museum. We think this is going to be another fun and educational place. The first exhibit will feature one of New Jersey’s favorite sons, little Jimmy Leeds, or as he is better known, the Jersey Devil! This incredible and uniquely New Jersey exhibit features the relics, specimens and reports of a secret expedition authorized by President James Monroe in 1819.

Few people know that Monroe was wounded in the Battle of Trenton and recuperated here. During that time he heard tales of a demon child, born to a woman in the Pine Barrens. He never forgot those tales and when he sent Commodore Stephen Decatur to New Jersey to test the quality of canon balls being manufactured here, he also entrusted to him a secret mission. This mission was to discover what he could of this “devil” and report back. Decatur brought with him a man of unique talents and interests, Dr. James Killian. Killian was a devoted cryptozoologist, although at the time he probably would have been called a ‘Monster Hunter.’ A dedicated group of Paranormalists have followed his career and have made some of his findings available to us. We are both excited and honored to have been chosen by the foundation to house and display these important artifacts.

Stephen Decatur, a remarkable man and American hero, was killed under suspicious circumstances in 1820. He is reported to continue to walk the halls of his home in Washington DC, a spirit chained to this realm by unfinished business and an undying sense of duty. His home has recently undergone significant repair and is now open to the public once again. His journey through New Jersey is just one of many of the historically significant moments in our collective past and we are so glad to have had it revealed to us. You are going to really love it.

I guess I was also thinking about new horizons and possibilities while on vacation. One of the things I did was go whale watching. It is no longer as startling to me when these enormous animals swim so close and dwarf the boats we are in, but it is still unbelievably inspiring. They are beautiful and graceful, yes. But more than that, to me they represent just how big and diverse our world is. It seems silly to me say that we know all there is to know of our world when we are forever changing it and uncovering new histories and new possibilities. We sit comfortably above, on a calm and picturesque sea, but below us is a universe unknown. That kind of sums it all up for me. All in all, it was great vacation!

Recommended reads this week: Tales of the Jersey Devil. It is a surprisingly detailed and entertaining book, well written and fun. I recommended it to several of my nieces and nephews and got great feedback from them AND their parents!

The Road to Gettysburg

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:02:15 -0400

We just got back from an amazing field trip to Gettysburg. If you haven't been and are remotely interested in history, the paranormal, beautiful landscapes and just all around amazing spaces, I highly recommend that you go. We went as Paranormal Investigative group, but really as an initial walk through. Some of our members had never been and in a place like Gettysburg it is good to get a few days of acclimation before attempting any investigation.
I am not quite sure what it is about Gettysburg that keeps me so enthralled. Is it the history? The stunning views? The sense of time suspended? Probably all of those things, but something else too, I think.
Anyone who has ever spent any time there will tell you that it absolutely captivates them; for many reasons, no doubt. Perhaps it is the thought of what occurred or perhaps it is the realization that we are, right now, witnessing the direct result of those three days of fighting.
Maybe that is it. It is rare that we as people are able to draw a direct line between our lives and singular moments in the past. But Gettysburg is a place that allows us to do that. It is hallowed grounds for all Americans, because all the lives lost on those three days of terrible fighting were American lives.
Hallowed ground. That is what you feel when you walk the fields of Gettysburg. You feel the weight of history upon you and you feel the individual. This is not some lofty concept or some faraway exotic land. This is a little town in Pennsylvania. This is fresh cut grass and Cornstalks as tall as a man. This peach trees still growing all in a row. This is one road in and one road out. This is America, yesterday, today, tomorrow.
There are ghosts in Gettysburg. I know this, because I have felt them. Despite my skepticism, I have felt them, I have heard them, I am enamored of them.
Paranormal Books & Curiosities is expanding its borders and moving to bring more experiences to those interested. This fall, we begin our Paranormal Excursions. I am excited about sharing these places with you all. You can check our website for updated schedules and hopefully, reports of great fun and excitement.
In the mean time, if there is a specific place you think we should be checking out, please let me know. Also, we have been invited to investigate a local University with a terrific history of haunting and can't wait to tell you all about it!
If you would like to participate in a first hand Paranormal Investigation, sign up for our July 20 investigation before it sells out. We are getting amazing evidence and are having a ton of fun. In fact the July 12 investigation was one of the best we have ever had! This is not a Halloween fright fest, it is a real investigation. You will learn the theories behind paranormal investigation, the terminology and how the equipment works. We supply the equipment, you find the ghosts!
As always our walking tour Asbury Park's Ghosts & Legends is great way to spend an evening. It is family friendly and full of surprises! Reservations are recommended.
Thursday - Saturday 8:00pm $10 for adults $5 for children
As always, Asbury Park is an absolute hotbed of new things and new places. Check out our friends at :
• Organic Style
• The Showroom
• Munch
• Restaurant Plan B
• words!
• Mike's BeachHouse
• Twisted Tree
• America's Cup Coffee
• All Eyes on You
• Parlor Gallery
• Asbury Bark
• Flying Saucers
• The Paint Place
• The Dawg Joint
• Bike Church
• BUnique Clothing
• HoldFast
• The Window Closet
• Allasburkpark.com

I just realized as I was typing these names out is that these folks have become more than colleagues to me, they are friends! I hope you all take the opportunity to come down and see some terrific shops and visit some fantastic restaurants and mostly meet some special and wonderful people. This list is not complete by any means. Check out our map of Downtown Asbury Park to help you keep track of all the great stuff going on. Stop in any of the shops for a copy when you are in town
Don't sit around! Get out and enjoy yourselves!
We are also excited to announce a new member of our Paranormal Family, Psychic Melanie joins us this week on Tuesdays. I had a terrific reading from her and knew right away she would fit in. I liked her style and her reading was extremely accurate and enjoyable. Stop by and say hello.
Don't forget Bill Blount on Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays. He just gets better and better. His crystal readings are so beautiful and insightful. Linda Fate on wednesdays and Sundays always provides a "wow" moment with her detail and insightful readings, but I think people come back again and again because she makes them smile. Linda is gifted in many ways and we're hapy to bring her special blend of intuition and laughter to our customers.

Have a great week and keep an eye out for more changes from Paranormal Books & Curiosities. We're pushing our boundaries and hope you join us!

Musings

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:09:30 -0400

I have been totally remiss in updating this, so please forgive me. Since I opened Paranormal Books & Curiosities, I have not been able to do the amount of reading I used to! However, this past month, I was able to indulge myself and settled down on a couple of long flights with a few terrific reads.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, my new favorite book on the supernatural came as a surprise to me. It is Convergence, by Dennis Mikolay, a Monmouth University Student and paranormal investigator. I must admit I was completely caught off guard by just how well this book came together. Impressive on many levels, not the least of which is the fact that Mr. Mikolay self published this volume, Convergence is a thoughtful, enjoyable and well researched read. Rather than rehashing famous haunts sites, written about far too often, Mr. Mikolay touches on new subjects. This is a really delightful read, well worth your time and I highly recommend it!

My second recommendation from the vacation pile is “The Psychic Life of Abraham Lincoln”. Now I must admit I have recommended this to people before I read it based on other reviewers and also because I wanted to get feedback on it. The feed back was invariably positive and I am not going to break the mold. While it may not convince you that Lincoln was psychic, it certainly goes a long way toward offering evidence that Lincoln was a well rounded man ahead of his time. This Lincoln is a man who recognized his place in history. I was both intrigued by the subject matter and delighted by some of the insights offered. It was well written and a fast an easy read that was not as weighty as the title might imply. Another worthy read as we celebrate the 200th birthday of America’s Favorite (?) and most studied President and as we walk directly into the history his presidency made possible.

Recommended Readings and Musings

Zombies = World Peace

Moonlit Nights and Walks Through The Past

Redefining Paranormal

The Devil Among Us

The Road to Gettysburg

Musings