It's hard to convey the eeriness of Ellicott City as it was before the encroachments of the horrible incessant overdevelopment of central Maryland in recent years. Suffice it to say, there's nothing in a story like this that feels entirely implausible to anyone who remembers the place as it was. Sometimes I tell myself it all had to do with some low-level electromagnetism emanating from all the granite of the forest hills and ridges around it. But that's the petty rationalist in me. Really, it was all those ghosts...
Rule of thumb: only after one has exhausted all supernatural/preternatural explanations for such phenomena should one resort to "natural" ones. Much too lazy the other way around, and my way makes for a much healthier outlook on life in general. And, yes, Ellicott City was (and still is, if you know where to look) wonderfully weird.
I really enjoyed this. Going to send the book to my family back home at Christmas. I grew up in Baltimore and spent a lot of time in Elkridge at an aunt’s home. It would have been later than your time but I get what you mean about the weirdness.
Yeah, I can only Imagine. We moved down to Virginia when I was about ten so I haven’t been there in ages. But I remember growing up with the sense that all those areas were haunted by native tribes whose arrowheads we searched for. The fact that my father in his twenties (1950’s) had an encounter with a ghost who another reliable source encountered some months later reinforced that idea.
Your ghost story is ingenious. You don't tip your pitches, so I can never guess what's coming next. I hope Angelico Press doesn't keep us waiting much longer for more stories.
It's hard to convey the eeriness of Ellicott City as it was before the encroachments of the horrible incessant overdevelopment of central Maryland in recent years. Suffice it to say, there's nothing in a story like this that feels entirely implausible to anyone who remembers the place as it was. Sometimes I tell myself it all had to do with some low-level electromagnetism emanating from all the granite of the forest hills and ridges around it. But that's the petty rationalist in me. Really, it was all those ghosts...
Rule of thumb: only after one has exhausted all supernatural/preternatural explanations for such phenomena should one resort to "natural" ones. Much too lazy the other way around, and my way makes for a much healthier outlook on life in general. And, yes, Ellicott City was (and still is, if you know where to look) wonderfully weird.
Very enjoyable (good and creepy)! Thank you!
I had no idea about the tradition of ghost stories at Christmas. Glad to be introduced to it. I enjoyed this a great deal.
Quite a history behind the tradition -- a "shadow" side of Christmas that complements the bright and jolly aspects. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
So interesting that it never took root in the States. So hard here to hold the tension of the dark and the light together.
You are so right about "holding the tension of the dark and the light together." That's a negative capability we positive thinkers don't like.
I really enjoyed this. Going to send the book to my family back home at Christmas. I grew up in Baltimore and spent a lot of time in Elkridge at an aunt’s home. It would have been later than your time but I get what you mean about the weirdness.
It's lost a lot of its former eeriness, but it lingers in certain pockets here and there.
Yeah, I can only Imagine. We moved down to Virginia when I was about ten so I haven’t been there in ages. But I remember growing up with the sense that all those areas were haunted by native tribes whose arrowheads we searched for. The fact that my father in his twenties (1950’s) had an encounter with a ghost who another reliable source encountered some months later reinforced that idea.
You are an interesting theologian.
Thank you.
Your ghost story is ingenious. You don't tip your pitches, so I can never guess what's coming next. I hope Angelico Press doesn't keep us waiting much longer for more stories.
The collection will be published in February if all goes according to schedule.