Irrational fears: An exploration

I grew up watching Sesame Street. I would consider it to be quality programming. Not nearly as creepy as some of the things kids watch nowadays. (Using the word "nowadays" just made me feel old.) But really, Teletubbies are terrifying. I don't know if that is considered the same age group or not. It's beyond the point I'm attempting to make.

So, Sesame Street.

I've heard that watching the show caused ADD in kids. From changing story lines so fast and whatnot. I guess that makes sense. But that is also not my point.

Muppets are scary.

Not all of them. Obviously I was able to watch the show without having nightmares. And I was quite fond of the Fraggle community. In fact, most are not even remotely scary. That was a generalized statement. I take it back. I will rephrase.

Big Bird is scary.

Let's take a deeper look at this bird, shall we? It's eight feet tall. It's innards are made up of a 75 year old man. I can only imagine the resemblance being uncanny. I suppose it's inability to fly makes me a little more comfortable.

It's not the bird, itself that I fear. It's the movie.

I can't even remember the name of it. I may have unconsciously blocked out every other memory of it as an attempt to get over it. I don't remember the story line. Not sure when I saw it. There it just one short scene that plays in my head those rare times I drive by farmland. Weird, I know.

All this scene consists of is that massive bird running through a field and hiding behind the rolls of hay.

Terrifying.

Now, every time I see those rolls of hay, I wait. For the giant bird. This is completely irrational, I know. But I feel like the day I drive by a field and not think about it is the day that it will happen. Big Bird will run in front of my car. I feel bad enough when I hit already killed road kill. Imagine the guilt that would come with destroying a child's happiness.

It's not muppets. It's not even BB. It is rolls of hay that I fear. Hay and the ability creatures have to hide behind them.