Exorcism Sorbet Leftovers

 How's the tummy feeling after all that ghost made sorbet, Dungeon Meshi Maniacs?  If you're reading this then you are still hungry for some cold dishes from beyond the grave! While I hate to disappoint we are done eating the dead and will instead focus on who cool the ghouls actually are.  Let's talk Ghosts, DMMs!

 Keen readers from last week will remember that I have a soft spot for the apparitions.  I also mentioned that ghosts scare me.  Both are 100% true, DMM's!  But what better way to conquer a fear than to study that which frightens you?  I'm living proof that this line of thinking doesn't always work!  I've studied ghosts for a large chunk of my childhood and I still have problems with things that move in the dark.  I no longer sleep with a light on but I do move quickly through a room in the middle of the night.

But where did all of this ghost love/fear come from?  I can't speak to the fear.  It's always been there.  The love is simple.  I wanted to be a Ghostbuster when I grew up.  Absolutely loved The Real Ghostbusters.  Every week the guys would bust all sorts of weird monsters.  Some based on actual ghost.  Remember that time Cthulhu showed up in Manhattan?

I'd wager the Collect Call of Cthulhu episode is the first time a lot of my generation learned about that weirdo.  Thanks to the writing by the likes of J. Michael Straczynski (of Babylon 5 fame!) Real Ghostbusters was a fun show and I knew I wanted to learn all I could about ghosts.  So I read every book about ghosts that I could get my hands on at the local library!

 It was a fun time but alas, not to last.  I won't bore you with the details but let's just say if a kid tells you what they want to be when they grow up, try not to laugh.  Really derails them for a few decades.  Thankfully regret only lasts as long as you let it, DMMs.  As long as you are alive you can always start again.  And thanks to the inspiration of one of my favorite podcasts I decided to pick up the Tobin's Spirit Guide once again.

Thanks, Terri!  Also, listen to Uncanny Japan if you aren't already, DMM's.  How about before you go I tell you one of my favorite ghosts stories?  This one is classic and from one of the best selling books of all time.  The Holy Bible!

King Saul had a problem.  The armies of the Philistines were on the march and Saul had no good options to fight them.  Over the years he had ticked off everyone he ever met.  This included the Big G.  Saul prayed for any message, sign, dream, or prophecy on how to fight the Philistines and not die.  The only answer he got was, "Thank you for calling!  Your prayer is important to us but all angels are busy at the moment assisting other faithful.  Please hold and your prayer will be answered in the order it was received *horrible rendition of Green Sleeves on harp starts playing*"  Having no options left, Saul decides to ask the dead.  He just needs a witch to contact a ghost for him.  Slight problem. Saul outlawed witchcraft and drove all the witches out years ago.  Oops.

Saul does find a witch in the town of Endor.  Yes, Endor. The city that became a planet!  Putting on a disguise Saul goes to the Witch of Endor and asks that she raise the ghost of the prophet Samuel.  The Witch says, "Wow, I'd love to help but as you know it is illegal to practice witchcraft in the United Kingdom of Israel by decree of the King.  Who you aren't, right?"  Which is the first time recorded history anyone ever used the "you gotta tell me if you're a cop" ploy.  Saul lied, tucked his crown away and answered, "Seriously, I'm not Saul! And nobody is ever going to find out so you'll be fine."  The Witch starts the incantation to raise Samuel but as the ghost appears the witch gets a good look at her customer and see way to much regal in his face.  "Hey....you ARE Saul! What they heck, man? Kings can't lie!"  Saul nods and admits that he is the King but that the Witch is cool.  He won't have her killed.

Samuel arises and Saul immediately asks how he can win against the Philistines.  Samuel answers, "Oh, buddy...you didn't know?  Yeah, The Big Cheese HATES you. I don't have all the details but if it were me I'd say it were all those spears you threw at David while he played the harp for you.  Anyway, you're going to lose tomorrow.  Not only that, all three of your sons will die.  OH!  Before I forget, you're going die too.  See you again tomorrow!"

Naturally, Saul was pretty bummed.  This was the exact opposite of what he wanted to hear.  But the Witch took pity and fed him some fatted calf to get his strength back.  He went off to battle and died just like Samuel foretold.  What can we learn from this story, DMM's?  Always keep some hunks of fatted calf around for an after ghost visit meal!

Thank you for indulging me on my other hobby this week.  I had a lot of fun making the sorbet.  I also had a lot of fun remembering all the cool things I had forgotten from my childhood.  Next week will be just as fun, no we are not going to eat art.  We are getting things pretending to be other things! See you then!