About THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW By Sarah McNeal

 

Because my parents allowed us to read comic books to interest us in learning to read, in fact encouraged it when we were children, my sister and I were free to read comic books all we wanted. Pop preferred us to read classic stories in comics, but, well, we were kids after all. I had a fascination for ghosts, “Casper the Friendly Ghost”, was my favorite comic. I had quite a collection of them. I did, however, have one classic comic which I favored above all others: “THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW” by Washington Irving written in 1820. This Halloween favorite takes place in Sleepy Hollow, New York—a real town in Westchester County. Some think Irving was influenced by a poem written by Sir Walter Scott in 1796 titled “The Chase” in which A Heisman soldier lost his head from a cannon ball in the American Revolution.

 

Disney's Less Scary Animated Movie of Sleepy Hollow

Disney produced an animated movie about Ichabod Crane the tall, lanky school master who met up with the famous headless horseman. This movie was scary enough to satisfy children without terrifying them.

Tim Burton's Movie of Sleepy Hollow With Johnny Depp

Most recently, the movie version of Sleepy Hollow came out starring Johnny Depp as a somewhat eccentric detective. It’s playing on Netflix for any of you who might be interested in some Halloween movies without the horror of some movies these days.

Sleepy Hollow the TV Series

I don’t know if this TV series still exists, but I enjoyed Sleepy Hollow with Tom Mison until I gave up cable TV. I quite liked the series. In this series Ichabod, an American soldier in the Revolution is brought back to life into the present with the mission of finding and eliminating the Hessian soldier who still haunts Sleepy Hollow.

 

This is the actual town of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County, New York.

What is your favorite Halloween movie? Why is it your favorite? Did you read comic books as a kid? Which ones did you like best? Did you trade comic books with your friends?     

PETS ARE ANTIDEPRESSANTS By Sarah McNeal, #TheWildingsSeries

 

With so many people isolating at home and maintaining social distancing, they have turned to pets for companionship and comfort. I don’t know many people who don’t have a pet; they are a rarity in my circles. A pet will not allow you to be lonely. They are like little circus acts filled with joy that nurture our spirits and make us laugh. They are our furry buddies we can hang out with all day who rarely complain. (Cats might be an exception since it must be in their job description to display distain, but even their persnickety and grumpy opinions amuse us.)

 

We already know that some dogs have been specially trained to help people with physical or emotions issues. But even untrained dogs can bring us the comfort and love we all need. Children who may not have friends ordinarily have taken their pet as a friend, confidant, and companion. I imagine it is particularly difficult for kids in this pandemic who don’t even have the friendships from their classmates. Having been raised in a family where pets were always welcome, I know how important it is for a kid to have a dog or a cat. I’m certain there are those who prefer fish, or birds, or gerbils (or whatever) as their tiny companions, but the result is the same—unconditional love.

 

Shelter animals are finding homes in unprecedented numbers these days. That’s a really good thing in my book. Every shelter pet deserves a loving home and this is a time when they are most needed. My greatest hope is that, when the pandemic is over, that these pets will remain in those homes. They’ve done an outstanding job of keeping us happy and somewhat sane; it would be a betrayal to return them to a shelter. My wish is for people to discover the joy of having a pet and what a difference it makes to have a fur buddy who will stay at our side through thick and thin. Pets are our heroes and better antidepressants than any pill could ever provide.  

Sarah J. McNeal

Author of Heartwarming Stories

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