The Sunday Scaries – More Scary than Ghosts, Goblins, and Ghouls!

 

It's Sunday yet again! Sunday is a day most people handle well enough until the sky gets dark, and then they realize the inevitable reality that the next day is Monday. Monday is like a dentist appointment or a colonoscopy. It's not something you look forward to at all. 

We are now in the heart of Halloween month – it's officially Ghostober – and many houses are decorated with frightening scenes from movies and TV shows. It is always a month when people partake in all things that are scary. However, the Sunday scaries are in no way connected with hauntings and witch sightings – they have to do with something real and dreadful.

What are the Sunday scaries? The Sunday scaries are feelings of anxiety, sadness, or dread that happen on Sunday as the weekend ends and a new work or school week begins (Merriam Webster). This fear affects adults, adolescents, and kids, and it is more frightening than anything found in Dracula's Castle.

I Felt Them At a Young Age

I recall being in fourth grade and experiencing the Sunday scaries for the first time. When the weather was nice, we would go for a Sunday drive with my paternal grandparents who lived with us. On this particular Sunday we left the city and drove way out on Long Island to Cold Spring Harbor. 

We walked around a lovely waterfront area where we could see fish and reptiles in tanks. The fish hatchery was right on the water, and there was a view of the harbor and many boats bright in the sunshine. I should have been enjoying myself, but I kept thinking about a presentation I had to do the next day in school. I was literally sick to my stomach. This was my first experience with Sunday scaries, but it was not my last. 

Sunday Nights Are the Worst

As I grew older, Sunday nights seemed to be the worst. I was fine on the way home from work on Friday, Saturdays were golden, and then along came Sunday morning and the clock was ticking louder, like a countdown to doom. 

Anxiety about Mondays is Common

So, for adults, what causes this to happen? Many issues can make us dread going back to work on Monday morning. For example, a big meeting about budget cuts, a deadline on a project that you have to submit to your boss, or unfinished tasks that you should have done on Friday but were left for Monday.

There are probably endless lists of things we could post on a wall about why we don't want to go into work on Monday. The thing is that they are there whether we like it or not, and they will still be there on Tuesday morning if you call in sick on Monday – AND they will be added to everything you had scheduled to do on Tuesday. 

How I Got Over the Scaries

Watching the game helps

As I got older I learned how to prioritize my things to do list, and I became able to do more tasks within less time. Part of my self perceived lack of productivity had to do with my inability to multitask. I learned how to do more things in a day when I put each task into order of importance. 

I also tried to do more enjoyable things on Sunday. This could range from taking a long walk to heading to a museum to seeing a movie or watching some football on TV. Instead of letting Sunday control me, I learned to control it to make the day better for me. As the day waned, I didn't dread the next day anymore because I knew I would be able to handle whatever the day threw at me. 

Some More Helpful Tips

-Try not to leave any big project or deadline that's due on Monday unfinished. Get to it early on Friday and try to finish it if before lunchtime or directly afterwards. 

-View Monday differently – not as the big bad looming monster but as the day that gets you one day closer to next weekend. 

-Try to avoid losing Sunday to doing any unfinished work in order to be ready for the next day. That will make you resent Monday even more.

Reading a good book really helps

-Schedule lunch with a friend on Monday. That will break up the day and make it seem less daunting. 

-Make Sunday night count. Watch a movie, read a book, or FaceTime a friend. 

-Go to bed at a time that will give you a sufficient number of hours of sleep (eight hours is ideal).

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you can take the time to truly enjoy your Sundays and embrace Mondays as a day that can be filled with possibilities. If you're a football fan, you have the game that evening to look forward to enjoying. If isn't football season, maybe there is another game that you can anticipate seeing. You can also go to the gym, take a drive to a park or the beach, or meet a friend for dinner. Monday is not so bad if you can turn it into something positive each week. 

One last reminder – Monday leads to Tuesday and then you get to Wednesday, which means the week is half over. Monday is really not as bad as you think it is – you just have to convince yourself that it's your friend. Not a best friend, but one that can help you start every week off in the right way. 

Please check out these videos about Mondays!

The Mamas and the Papas

The Carpenters

Here is one for Sunday!

Don McLean's "American Pie" – The 55th Anniversary of a Great Big Slice of Nostalgia

By chance this week, I heard Don McLean's classic song "American Pie" on the car radio as I was driving to work. The announcer mentioned something about this month being the 55th anniversary of the song, and I got to thinking that I was just a kid when I first heard this song, and it couldn't be that long ago, but as I kept driving and listening I felt like it seemed like only yesterday that we were singing it in the school yard at recess.

Overview

McLean in 1971

The song was released on October 24, 1971, and its runtime of eight minutes and 42 seconds was not your typical two to three minute average for a single. It was released by United Artists, which means they had a strong belief in this extra long song's merits.

I recall getting the single as a gift – I still have it by the way – and you had to flip it over to the B-side to listen to the second half of the song. That was a very unusual situation, but "American Pie" was not your ordinary hit single.

The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1972. It also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.  It reached number two in the U.K. where it stayed for three weeks in 1971.

"American Pie" was chosen for preservation in the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2017.

Inspiration

The inciting incident of the song is repeatedly recalled when McLean sings about "the day the music died." This alludes to the plane crash on February 3, 1959, that took the lives of musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. This incident signaled what was known as the end of the early rock and roll era.

The Big Bopper

Buddy Holly

Ritchie Valens

McLean recalled the moment that gives us the line "Bad news on the doorstep/I couldn't take one more step."  He was 13 years old and delivering newspapers in New Rochelle, New York, and he cut open a bundle of rolled up newspapers. That is when he saw the 

headline about his three rock and roll heroes dying. 

McLean clearly saw this is as the end of the age of his innocence. What was to follow was rock and roll's changing landscape where widespread cultural and societal realignment would follow.  

Other References in the Song

The meaning of the rest of lyrics has been questioned for many years. As kids we used to debate who or what the references were about. Listening to the song again and again over the years as well as reading about it too, there seems to be a consensus that has been agreed upon by a majority of people.   

Elvis Presley

-Miss American Pie was a young woman McLean was dating who had been in the Miss America beauty pageant. 

 

-The King is generally accepted to be Elvis Presley. McLean has pushed back on this and has noted the "thorny crown" references a more spiritual figure.

-The Jester is widely agreed upon to be Bob Dylan. He represents the new rock and roll era after the plane crash, charging his songs with political and societal messages.

-Jack Flash is mentioned in the lyric "Jack Flash sat on a candlestick" and refers to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin Jack Flash."

-James Dean – the iconic American actor who died in a car crash – is directly identified in the lyrics as the one from whom the Jester is said to borrow a coat.

The cover of Sgt. Pepper

-The Quartet/The Marching Band is accepted to be The Beatles. The reference is connected to the sergeant's marching band in the group's eighth album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

-The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost seem to refer to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. Although there are some people who think it is a reference to the deaths in the plane crash in 1959.

-A Girl Who Sang the Blues is pretty much accepted to be Janis Joplin.

-The Altamont Concert (1969) refers to the free concert by the Rolling Stones. One of the fans – Meredith Hunter (a young Black man) – was killed by a member of the Hells Angels (who provided security) when Hunter pulled out a gun and was stabbed to death. This incident seemed to put a dark cloud over the notion that peace and love ruled this generation. 

Further Analysis and Interpretations

Looking at the time covered by the song – 1959-1970 – takes us from when McLean was 13 and learning about the deaths of his musical heroes to when he was 24 years old. Many of the events referred to in the song were major occurrences that shook the nation and the world.

McLean has long resisted giving explanations or meaning to his masterpiece, but once in a while he will throw in an acerbic comment about the lyrics like "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry." He has acknowledged that the beginning of the song is about Holly, Valens, Bopper, but that is as close as we are going to get anything more from him, so don't expect something that is more definitive. 

Final Thoughts

When I listen to this song, I think about Walt Whitman's great poem "I Hear America Singing" – a very upbeat tribute to the country in contrast to McLean's "American Pie." Whitman's poem is understandable because he was looking at all the possibilities of America in the late 1800s, when everything was booming and our country was growing stronger.

Vietnam War protest in the '60s

McLean's America in the time his song covers was vastly different. Weighed down by the Vietnam War, political assassinations, societal strife, and exploding cultural changes, America was a very volatile place. The American dream that Whitman championed had for McLean turned into a nightmare. 

So, in light of the song's 55th anniversary, I celebrate "American Pie" because it stands the test of time. It reminds us about who we were and what we had become in 1971. All these years later it rings true and clear and resonates with audiences because it is like a living history lesson. If we are wise enough, it is one from which we can still learn in 2026. 

Fun Fact: When I was a kid I thought that the line "And while Lenin read a book on Marx" was "And while Lennon read a book on Marx" thinking it was John Lennon. I had quite a few colorful conversations with people until someone who played guitar showed me the sheet music for the song, and I realized that I was wrong. You can find all the lyrics to the song here. 

Please check out the full video of the song. It was filmed in 1972 in London. Watch how the British audience accompanies McLean throughout the song. 

Movie Review: 'Obsession' – One of the Scariests Films You're Ever Going to See

 

People had been recommending Obsession to me for a long time, but since it had no major stars in it – I have to admit that starpower motivates me to see films –  I figured I could wait until I got to see it online. Now, after viewing the movie, I'm glad I didn't see it in a theater. I imagine the audience's reaction would have been a lot like the audience I watched the original Halloween (1978) with years ago – a true screamfest!

The unjarring aspect of the film is that all the characters are relatable – and the fact that none of them are famous actors somehow adds to their credibility. Rock Burwell's score enhances the creepiness factor. It is like a stove burner on low heat for most of the film, but rises to scorch you when it matters most. The whole time I watched the film I felt unnerved, not sure what would happen next but enjoying every minute of it, even though the story takes a deep dive into some dark stuff.  

The music store crew

The story revolves around Baron "Bear" Bailey (Michael Johnston), a clerk in a music store. He works with Nikki Freeman (an amazing Indie Navarrette), long time friend Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), and Sarah (Megan Lawless). Her father (Andy Richter) owns the store, and everyone seems to get along well. They all went to high school together, but Bear has always had a thing for Nikki. He is shy and cannot bring himself to ask her out, even with Ian trying to help him go through with it.

An Unexpected Death 

When Bear comes home from work, he finds his cat Sandy dead on the floor. She apparently got ahold of one of his pills, and it killed her. Sandy's death breaks Bear as it was the only loving relationship in his life. He sullenly puts the cat into a garbage bag and cleans up the space where it died. 

One Wish Willow

When Nikki loses a crystal necklace at work, Bear goes to a novelty store to get her a new one. The store is something like Spencer's in the mall, but has a creepy feel about it. He discovers a toy called One Wish Willow, and he decides to get that for Nikki instead. Maybe she will make a wish that will be good for him and her.  

A cheap plastic toy with dark power

After a night of hanging out at bar with Ian and Sarah, Nikki wants to go home. Bear offers to drive her, and he is hoping to let her know how he feels about her along the way. Once they get to her place, she gets out of the car, and Bear cannot bring himself to tell her. 

As she is walking toward her door, in frustration Bear takes out the One Wish Willow and breaks it, making a wish that Nikki will love him more than anyone else in the world. He turns to see Nikki almost immediately coming back to the car. She tells him that she is upset because her father is dying of cancer, and she cannot be alone.    

A Happy Relationship Begins But

Seemingly happy together

We get scenes of blissful domesticity as Nikki starts living with Bear. We see them making breakfast, doing things together, and seemingly having a wonderful time, but there are some red flags along the way.

Nikki creates a memorial for Sandy using the cat's body. Bear is shocked by this, but Nikki claims she only did this because of the remnants of the Molly (MDMA) she took. 

Ian calls Bear and tells him that Sarah told him only recently that Nikki said that she thought of Bear like a little brother. He also tells him that her father is healthy, and that she doesn't even speak to him. 

When Bear tries to talk to her about this, she gets very angry. She accuses him of not loving her. During the night, Bear wakes and finds Nikki staring at him as he sleeps. When he says something to her about it, she cries dramatically. 

Spoiler Territory

Things start to unravel

The rest of the way has too many things that will ruin the movie for you. I will say that Navarrette is totally chilling and shocking in the way her character unravels bit by bit, and Bear's weak attempts to deal with what is happening are to no avail.

The story is basically about having your cake and eating it too. In this case Bear got what he always wanted until he realized that he got it the wrong way. When he calls the toll free number of the One Wish Willow company, he is told there is no way to undo the spell except if he dies. 

Highly Recommended

Curry Barker wrote and directed this horror masterpiece, and I'm impressed by his patience of letting the story come along slowly. The toy bought in a novelty story is the inciting incident, and the slow burn eventually becomes a blaze that is hard to extinguish. 

There are all kinds of horror stories – Dracula to Frankenstein to Night of the Living Dead – but Obsession will scare you more than any of them. You'll probably never get caught by those cinematic monsters, but the most frightening thing about this film is the whole time you're watching it, you're thinking this could happen to you.

Fun Fact: Curry Barker plays the voice on the One Wish Willow helpline. 

*Please watch the scary trailer below!

Stevie Nicks' Song "Edge of Seventeen" – Inspired by Deaths and a Misheard Conversation

 

Stevie in her witchy attire

Stevie Nicks' career as a member of Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist has been impressive. As a kid I fell in love with her because she was beautiful and talented, and as I grew up I never stopped getting her albums and never stopped loving her work. 

I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few times and, although the whole band was awesome, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her stage presence. She had the wickedly witchy way of dressing, and Stevie moved around the stage in like a ghostly haze. It was impossible for me to stop watching her lithe movements, even if she wasn't singing the lead vocal. 

This album is so amazing

I must have played Fleetwood Mac's album Rumors probably a thousand times when it first came out – I still have it by the way – but it was the song "Dreams" with Stevie's lead vocal that I wanted to hear again and again, so I went out and bought the single. I still think this was their greatest album and "Dreams" was one of their best songs.

Sad Inspiration

Stevie started thinking about the song and wanted it to be about the romance between Tom Petty and his wife Jane; however, one sad week changed everything.

John in NYC 1975

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was assassinated in New York City. In that same week her beloved Uncle Jonathan passed away from cancer. Deeply affected by both events, Stevie decided to turn the song into something to help her deal with these tragedies. 

The Title and a Misheard Word

Stevie was talking to Jane Petty about how she had met Tom. During the conversation she mentioned something about them being "the age of seventeen." Jane happened to speak with a heavy Southern accent, so Stevie thought she heard "edge of seventeen" instead. 

Although she changed the nature of the song after Lennon's and her uncle's deaths, Stevie kept the title and reworked the song, and we have the beloved classic song that we can appreciate today!

The White-Winged Dove and the Night Bird

Stevie  on the cover

The memorable and powerful imagery of the white-winged dove in the song came from a restaurant menu in Phoenix, Arizona. Stevie later explained that after she changed the song to one serious in nature that involved two deaths, and she envisioned that the dove would be representative of the soul leaving the body.

The night bird in the song represents Death "singin "Come away" (come away, come away). When you listen to the song again, the white-winged dove seems to prevail over Death, and takes the soul away with it to heaven. 

Bella Donna 

Stevie's first solo album was Bella Donna, and the record was released in July 1981 and became a juggernaut. It reached number one the Billboard 200, and it was greeted with overwhelmingly critical acclaim and was a financial success, selling over 5 million copies. 

"Edge of Seventeen" and three other singles from the album made the Billboard Hot 100, and Stevie would begin her White-Winged Dove Tour in November 1981 with her band and backup singers from the album. Rolling Stone crowned her "the Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll," and it seemed like she was on a trajectory at the time to be as big of a sensation as Fleetwood Mac.

Takeaways

Tom and Jane Petty

While Stevie's song started out as a planned romantic song for her friends Tom and Jane Petty, it ended up being an unforgettable song about death and eternal peace. Perhaps the original idea for the song would have been a hit, but the way it turned out made it an iconic rock and roll masterpiece.

And as for me, the kid who fell in love with Stevie still loves her. She has been true to her craft and desire to bring her fans joy through her music. Stevie Nicks is a legend, and I believe "Edge of Seventeen" is her greatest hit that will go down as one of the most enduring rock songs of all time. 

 

Please watch this video to understand the power of this song!

 

How Should We Teach Students About 9/11 Who Were Born After It Happened?

Plane headed for South Tower

It is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and caused an airplane to crash in Shanksville, PA. For those of us who were alive when this day happened, the tragic event is seared into our memories, but there are those who were born after the attacks, and many of them are not fully aware of what happened or clear about the impact on our city, our country, and the world. 

For me, 9/11 is very personal. We lost a family member on that day – a firefighter who was so brave that he went up the stairs of a burning building when everyone else was coming down them. I also lost two childhood friends that day, so it is not something I can just forget about and move on. 

My children have no memory of what happened, but as a family we have chosen to keep the story of 9/11 as something that deeply affected us. They have heard stories about their brave uncle who died on that day, and they see how we have honored his memory each year. Even though it is 25 years later, we are never going to stop marking this day and will never forget what happened.

How Can We Teach About What Happened?

To the generation born after 9/11, it has become a part of history. It's something they encounter in their textbooks in history class. As my generation learned about Pearl Harbor – another devastating day in American history – these students learn about 9/11 as part of a broad course of study. 

D-Day in France June 6, 1944

My father was a WWII veteran, so in our house discussions about Pearl Harbor, D-Day (my father was there for it), and other aspects of the war were part of our childhoods. When I was learning about it in school, I had a definite personal connection to the events of the war.

This generation may or may not have known someone connected to 9/11. Teachers cannot and should not treat 9/11 as just another event in history. It must be made into something more important than that. It is a day that changed everything, and those lost and their grieving families and friends deserve a more focused approach.

Personal Connections

Firefighter visiting a classroom

One of the best resources teachers have at their disposal are people. Survivors of 9/11 – firefighters, other first responders, and civilians – are valuable because they can relate personal experiences had on that day.

Schools should hold a day of tangible recognition for 9/11. Part of the program of that day or week should include visitors who experienced 9/11. I know many people – myself included – who would be more than willing to participate in such an experience. 

These speakers could bring physical artifacts to show to the students. This could include photographs of their lost loved ones, personal belongings, and documents (including any newspaper clippings). This would make 9/11 not just something read about in a textbook – it would make the tragic day come alive for students. 

Interview Family Members

A great resource for students can be family members or friends of the family. Students can be given an assignment to interview someone and ask a series of questions regarding 9/11. 

Student interviewing someone about 9/11

Younger parents may have vague memories of 9/11, but older family members and friends or neighbors may hold onto vivid memories of 9/11. Questions could be asked like these: Where were you when it happened? How did you feel when you learned about it? Was anyone you know lost in the attacks? And many other questions. 

By interviewing people who lived through 9/11, students are going beyond what is just a historical entry in a textbook. This is bridging the gap between a simple rendering of events and personal memories that are probably more vivid and meaningful. 

Audio and Video

9/11 was covered extensively by the media from the moment the first airplane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. For students to be able to see and hear what happened that day has much more impact than a textbook entry would have. Please watch the video below of the Twin Towers coming down.

Depending on the age of the students, teachers would have to use discretion regarding what is actually shown. High school students should be able to handle the more graphic videos of the falling buildings and people jumping from the burning towers. While this is ugly and heartbreaking, it is also necessary and compelling to let students know about the human losses that day and how horrific they were.  

There is also the opportunity to hear audio of phone calls between people in the burning buildings or on the doomed planes and their friends and loved ones. People who knew they were going to die were trying to connect with others during those final minutes. Yes, it is devastating to listen to these voices, but it will definitely make 9/11 become real beyond the textbook explanation about what happened. 

Everyday Impacts on Their World

The attacks on 9/11 are still impacting our world today. Teachers can make clear how these procedures have changed the way we live our lives. Here are some things that should be discussed:

Passengers and TSA agents

1. Airports - Going through security now involves taking off shoes, limiting the volume of liquids we carry, and going through TSA body scanners. 

2. Public Areas - Concrete barriers, enhanced security (including surveillance cameras), and bag checks are found in federal and state buildings, train and bus stations, sports arenas, and large public events. 

3. The Patriot Act - Federal legislation enhanced governmental powers to monitor phone calls, digital communications, and financial contractions. 

4. New Agencies - The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) were established for domestic security and border control. 

 Social Impacts

1. Profiling People - The attacks caused an increased awareness of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslims, who were subjected to heightened security, stereotyping, and a persistent focus on their activities. 

2. Ongoing Health Issues - First responders and Lower Manhattan residents and students have been affected from ongoing chronic respiratory illnesses, cancers, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can compound physical and mental health and also lead to death. 

3. 9/11 Memorial and Museum - Lesson plans are available from this invaluable resource for all grade levels. It is also an ideal place for school class trips for students to understand the real impact that 9/11 has had on our lives. 

First Responders' Bravery

NYC Firefighters raise a flag on 9/12/2001

Students should be made aware of the incredible bravery of all first responders on 9/11, when they did their jobs without thinking about their own personal safety. Even after the attacks, they worked in the smoking rubble for weeks to try to find survivors. 

If teachers are able to do so, schedule a class visit by first responders to talk about the impact of 9/11 on our city and the country. It will be more than a teachable moment – it will make the day come alive for our students. 

Final Thoughts

By making an effort to do the things discussed above, we can make 9/11 more than just a day that occurred in history. On this 25th anniversary of the attacks, it is essential to remember the depth of the scars that were left on our nation. 

By teaching about 9/11 in a compelling and meaningful way, we are not just giving our students essential instruction about an impactful historic moment, we are also honoring all those lost on that day and their families and friends who still suffer a deeply personal loss. In doing so, we are making clear right now and for the years to come that 9/11 will not recede into the backdrop of history but will be meaningfully noted each year for now and forevermore!

9/11 Documentary

When you have time, please watch the documentary below. I believe it best captures what happened to my city on 9/11/2001 and shows the bravery of the firefighters on that fateful day.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Marking the Premiere of the First Episode

 

On September 8, 1966, "The Man Trap," the first episode of Star Trek TOS, premiered on NBC. Little did anyone know it at the time, but the show would change television and film forever. People like George Lucas and Seth MacFarlane have admitted being influenced by Star Trek, leading them to create shows (MacFarlane's The Orville) or films (Lucas's Star Wars franchise). 

 The Episode

McCoy and Nancy had once been lovers

"The Man Trap" involves the U.S.S. Enterprise arriving at planet M-113, where it is meant to provide supplies and medical exams for its only two inhabitants – Professor Robert Crater (Alfred Ryder) and his wife Nancy (Jeanne Bal) – who work at the archaeological research center there. 

Darnell sees a woman he once knew

Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForrest Kelley), and Crewman Darnell (Michael Zaslow) beam down to the surface, with Kirk mentioning to McCoy that he once had a relationship with Nancy. They each view Nancy differently – Kirk sees her as an older woman, McCoy sees her as he once knew her, and Darnell as an attractive blonde woman he had met once before. When Nancy goes outside to find her husband, she encourages Darnell to follow her. 

Crater returns without Nancy, and he insists that he doesn't need a medical examination. All they require is salt tablets because of the atmosphere. McCoy insists on conducting the examination, but before anything meaningful can take place there is a woman's scream outside. They find Darnell is dead with a plant in his mouth and Nancy standing over him. She says that he tried to taste the plant, and it caused marks on his face and that it killed him. 

Back on the ship, McCoy conducts an examination of Darnell's body and determines that the plant didn't kill him, and he has had all the salt drawn from his body through suction marks on his face. Kirk recalls that Crater asked for salt tablets, and he is determined to get to the bottom of what has happened. 

The Salt Monster

The Salt Monster

Designed by Wah Chang, the creature consisted of a head sculpted in clay and then covered by a plaster cast. After drying, Wang removed the cast and painted the head and added a white wig and glass lenses for the eyes. Gloves were fashioned to make the fingers having suction cups, and the costume was complete with a furry bodysuit. Dancer Sandra Gimple played the part – one that I found terrifying as a kid. 

The Last of Its Kind

The discussion is had that a salt vampire like this one of an inferior species that is dangerous to humans and should be destroyed. But, when it is learned that the murderous creature is the last of its kind, there is some doubt about killing it. The decision is made for them when the Nancy starts attacking Kirk, and McCoy has no choice but to kill her. 

Nancy starts to attack Kirk

When the the creature reverts back to looking like Nancy, McCoy apologizes but shoots her again, knowing it is not the woman he once loved. Still the final feeling left by the death of the creature is multi-layered. This is the power of Star Trek episodes – they are not just meant to entertain you – they are also meant to get you thinking!

Final Notes

A fun fact is "The Man Trap" was the sixth episode to be filmed, but it was chosen as the first to be broadcast due to its scary monster theme. The choice worked because the episode scored 25.2% Nielsen rating for the first half hour, making it first in its time slot. 

Some viewers complained about the violence – multiple killings of crewmen – but others noted that the acting was strong. Fans came up with the name Salt Vampire for the creature, and that is how the character is known by fans today. 

The Celebration Continues

A series of events will continue to take place celebrating the 60th anniversay of Star Trek. Please check out this link to read about the everything being done to celebrate this milestone. 

Live Long and Prosper!

 

Back to School Can Be Cruel

 

I have been an educator for many years, and I can tell you one simple truth – going back to school can be cruel. This is not just for the kids who have cherished these carefree summer days of no more pencils and no more books – even we educators suffer from what we thought was the endless summer finally ending. 

There is no shame in admitting that the summer's end brings anxiety and dread. Getting back into a rigid routine after having months of freedom is daunting. Wondering about how many things I am going to do today is a blessing. Knowing what I have to do today because of a work schedule is a decidedly different thing. 

The pleasure of enjoying sunsets

Adults love summer too, and there's no better feeling than knowing you can linger on the beach to watch the sunset because you have nothing pressing to do tomorrow. I enjoy it just as much as my children do, and there's nothing wrong with that until time runs out, and you have to face reality. 

The Calendar

"The calendar is our friend in June and becomes our enemy as it turns to September," I remember a classmate saying years ago. I recall as a kid looking at the calendar in the kitchen as my mother would for some unknown reason – now I think it was to keep us aware of the days left in summer – cross off each day with a marker. 

I was perfectly fine until the calendar flipped to August. As those days started getting crossed off, I knew my goose was going to get cooked. Each day I would try not to think about it, but inevitably all August days were crossed off, and I stared at the dreaded word SEPTEMBER like it was a black hooded executioner. 

My Kids Suffer Too

I guess my anxiety about summer ending as a kid and then as an educator was inherited by my children. I never crossed off days on the calendar – we don't even have a physical calendar in our house – but they are painfully aware that tomorrow is September 1st, and they know what that means.

When they were younger, these last days of August were filled with dread. We would finally go to Staples to get their school supplies – and the most important new backpack because every kid was apparently judged by this important item. It would have to feature currently popular characters from shows they watched on TV, and ideally their lunchboxes would have to correspond with the backpack.

Check out this funny Staples commercial with Alice Cooper. Actress Madeline Martin plays his daughter.

My kids are older now but the pressure is still the same. I'm going back to work, and it's back to school time for them. I do think this feeling is normal, and it is a good idea to examine why we feel this way. 

Why Kids Hate Back to School

1. Academic expectations have to be the number one reason kids have hated going back to school since the days of the one-room schoolhouse.  They have gone from the lazy crazy days of summer – where the only expectations were to have fun – to days filled with quizzes, tests, assignments, and the dreaded specter of homework. 

2. Structured routines return with school and that is daunting because they have spent a whole summer without a basic routine. I know how my own kids would stay up late watching movies and shows they liked, and then they could sleep late into the morning undisturbed. Going back to school means alarm clocks are set, breakfast is early – when in the summer breakfast could be had a lunch time – and then they are off to school. 

3. Social anxiety is another factor that going back to school brings. During the summer kids hang out with friends, some of whom they've known since pre-K. There is no structure to friendship in the summer; it is rather a laissez-faire arrangement of seeing friends and hanging out with little structure. 

Back to school means sitting in a classroom with different kids, new kids, and there is pressure to "make friendships" which you may not want to or do not like someone from previous experiences. Trying to make friends or trying to fit in sets up awkward situations. 

4. Loss of freedom is another reason why kids hate going back to school. Going from waking up late and doing whatever you want to do to a rigid schedule is the worst thing of all. Kids heard Alice Cooper singing "School's Out" as they ran out of the school doors in June. but now there is nothing to sing about as they head inside on the first day of school clutching new pencils, new books, and receiving those teachers' dirty looks.

5. A no phones in schools policy is something kids dread. Living in the NYC area, we have the New York State Phone-Free Schools Law. There is a statewide ban from "bell-to bell" which means no smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and internet connected laptops for the whole day. School issued devices are the only exception. For kids who spent all summer addicted to their phones or other devices, this is a withdrawal that can be very difficult for them.   

Handling Going Back to School

Both parents and kids have to prepare themselves for going back to school. For most of us here in the NYC area that means we have until next week, but many of you reading this may already have kids back in school now. What can we do to ease ourselves back into school days mode?

1. Kids and their parents should get back to a normal sleep routine gradually. If you all have been sleeping later, try to get up a little earlier each day. Start getting up 10 to 15 minutes earlier each day this week until you reach the time you would actually have to get up for work and school next Tuesday.

2. Start getting back into school/work mode with your daily activities. Maybe the kids can get their school supplies ready, read a book they know they will have to read in September – besides school supply lists reading lists or books needed for the school year can be posted online. Parents too can try to get back into a breakfast-lunch-dinner pattern that will be starting the following week.

3. Getting clothing ready or getting new clothes for the school year is a way to let reality sink in. Some kids actually have to get new uniforms for school. As a parent I realized that for some reason kids grow more during the summer, so check and make sure that last year's uniform still fits.

4. Ease anxiety by talking about how they feel about going back to school. Kids will feel better if they can explain why they are worried or scared about going back to the classroom. If they are entering a new school – like when kids transition from K-5 to middle school – they may be worried about finding their classroom and meeting new people and teachers. 

5. Going online to "meet" the teachers in advance is helpful. Many school websites have lists of faculty including pictures and biographies. Getting to know where everything is can be helpful too. If you're new to the school, why not schedule a visit to the school with your kids to find out where their classrooms are, the cafeteria, gym, and other important places. Knowing where things are can help ease nervousness of going in cold on the first day. 

Final Thoughts

Going back to school is always challenging. Parents and their kids can lower the risk of it being a catastrophe by preparing for change. Confront the notion that this is a transition phase and that expectations should be realistic that the first week – or even all of September – can be a time of adjustment and adaptation. 

Parents should remember that kids take cues from you about how to handle the situation. If you're acting nervous or stressed out about this back to school time, kids will mirror that, and it will be harder for them. Going back to school is cruel only if you allow it to be!

Take a deep breath, stay calm, and face this time with conviction that everything will work out – because invariable it always does. Oh, and by the time you go to Meet the Teacher Night – usually held during the second week of school – everything should be back to normal. 

Good luck in your transition back to school and have a great school year!