As both Mike and Nolan mentioned a couple weeks ago, the world was deprived of one of the most wonderful and genuine human beings ever to walk this planet; my mom.
It has taken me some time to come to terms with this; one of the saddest moments in my life’s history, and I didn’t want to submit something to PCR that would be pretty much depressing in the most utter of fashions. That said, and with this being Halloween week, I would like to offer the readers of this most excellent internet publication a brief glimpse of woman who went by the name of Marjorie.
Most surely quite a few of you know I am the horrorheadfred master at Masters of Horror, which means you also understand I’m a maniac for the Classics, preferably Universal Studios from the ‘30’s and ‘40’s. The reason for this is quite simple, as it is due to my mom practically forceing me in front of the TV one day when a double bill of Frankenstein ‘31 and Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman ‘42 was airing. At the time, I was into playing my Chipmunks A-Go-Go album and completely immersed in playing with my Lone Ranger and Tonto multi movable action figures. That was all about to come to a screeching halt, and my life would never be the same.
I still remember, quite vividly, mom coming into my room and saying, in an eerie voice “Frankenstein is on TV”. “What’s that” I said innocently. She took my little hand, led me to the living room, and showed me what it was. I must have sat at the TV at the close of the opening narration and warning, because I remember Clive and Frye stalking the graveyard, and digging up the body. My eye’s were glued to the screen and I remember mom smiling.
Immediately the first course of action in my day was to check out the tv guide to see if there were any other scary movies playing. And it wasn’t long after this that I came up with a new moniker for mom; The Momster. She would get this ‘I’m gonna get you’ look in her eyes and I’d take off yelling “Oh NO. It’s the MOMSTER”. She’d always track me down, hold me, and tickle me silly.
At a time when a lot of parents were concerned their kids would become warped from monster movies, my mom was feeding me spoon after spoon. I remember making my first Vampire Stake and running to show her, and her looking at me like I just discovered the cure for cancer. When I discovered Famous Monsters of Filmland she was wholly behind my collecting efforts. And recently, when issue #245 was ‘dedicated’ to my moniker of ‘Horrorhead Fred’, I called her immediately and told her. She was a giddy as a little girl when she heard the news.
It is so incredibly difficult to serve her true justice in the written form, but if I had to describe her in a few succinct words, then I’d have to say this:
She was the most kind, loving, caring, thoughtful, giving, compassionate and forgiving person to ever grace the earth.
I love and miss you Mom. And as I said at your funeral, you are and forever will be my Hero.
THANKS TO FRIENDS
Thank you, Mike, Nolan and Corey for showing up to lend this old guy some much needed emotional support. I can’t begin to convey how much it not only meant to me then, but means to me now. Mom loved all of you and thought you all, in her words, ‘hung the moon’. Especially Corey. Mom always was into drummers.
You guys are 3 in a billion, and I love you all very much.
HALLOWEEN
I know I'm running very late with this, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say I hope you all had a great Halloween. Party on, Monster Kids!!
Till next time,
Matthew
