Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Basement Step Blues

Crappy picture, but trust me these basement steps at my Dad's house are steep. The railing is "okay" and yet feels a tad precarious. The top fluorescent light takes forever to flick on (if it does at all), which adds to the bad horror movie atmosphere.

These are the steps down to the washer and dryer in the unfinished section of the basement. The finished section is total retro stuck-in-the 60s with panel walls, off color stick-on tiled floor, leftover saggy furniture, and a television with an antenna (I don't think it works). It's the land that time forgot and is musty.

The unfinished section has always creeped me out. The hulking furnace groans in the corner. Thousand leggers roam the concrete floors, and huge spiders could stroll by. One meager light bulb flickers overhead. Shadows are eerie and noises echo.

Something always creaks, crackles, or whistles. (and no, I don't mean my knees)

I managed to swallow fears and conquered laundry here in PA. (Once again up to help Dad - more stories to tell)

But the words, "Go to the basement" bring a chill down my spine.

How about you?
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10 comments:

  1. ConnieNovember 3, 2015 at 8:18 PM

    I've never cared for the basements in any of the houses I have lived in. Most of them were much like what you describe. No wonder so many bad things happen in them in scary movies!

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    1. JoanneNovember 4, 2015 at 7:56 AM

      extra creepy as a kid, and now as a grown adult I still look for the bogey man

      Delete
  2. Hilary Melton-ButcherNovember 4, 2015 at 3:44 AM

    Hi Joanne - a good source of story ideas though. As a kid I used to hate going to our downstairs bathroom/washing area ... I thought the fox was chasing me ... I couldn't wait to get out!!

    I hope your Dad is coping and life is easier all round for you all .. cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. JoanneNovember 4, 2015 at 7:58 AM

      A fox? That's a new one. But it is a story.
      Dad is moving slowly. We are trying to stay positive and boost spirits. Thanks

      Delete
  3. Annalisa CrawfordNovember 4, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    I seen far too many horror films... oh, okay, far too many Simpsons' Halloween Specials to ever want to go down into an American basement! British ones are fine :-)

    Best wishes to your dad and his continuing improvement.

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    Replies
    1. JoanneNovember 5, 2015 at 8:19 AM

      a basement is a basement. Maybe in TX they are smarter - they don't have them. Dad's working on stuff daily. It's tough

      Delete
  4. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comNovember 4, 2015 at 3:53 PM

    I think that every horror story needs to have a basement, and every place I live in needs to NOT.

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  5. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comNovember 4, 2015 at 3:54 PM

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  6. Elephant's ChildNovember 4, 2015 at 8:41 PM

    Fortunately I have never lived in a house with a basement. I suspect that I would decide that going to the laundromat was just fine. Hang the expense.

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