By Thomas Sellers Jr.
It’s no secret I am not a big fan of Halloween.
The 2021 edition will be officially celebrated Sunday on the last day of this month. While I know most neighborhoods will dress the children in scary, festive and crazy costumes on Oct. 30. Saturday is just a better day to grab loads of candy and sugary treats and devour them in front of a spooky movie.
Besides the candy element, Halloween is senseless to me because of the terrible horror flicks, evil pranks and silliness inspired by demonic intentions.
The true historic meaning of Halloween has been lost over the past 50 years. Halloween is a holiday celebrated each October 31 and the tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
That was when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve. The day grew into Halloween featuring other traditions trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, costumes and eating treats.
While the day is tailor-made for the kiddos, adults don’t want to see a good party opportunity go to waste. As a 40-year-old man, I am too old for drinking all night, seeing my money go toward a costume or heading to the cinema for a “scary” movie. Instead I have real fears. Let me list my top 10 fears as of Oct. 14, 2021. These are the most scary things to me in the world today.
10. COVID-19
Back in December 2019 there was a ticking time bomb about to explode across the world. Detonation will be written in the history books as March 11, 2020. For the next year in a half COVID-19/coronavirus has dominated the planet changing our way of life and everyday concerns.
COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.
If I was composing this list Oct. 14, 2020, COVID-19 would have been No. 1. Still with a healthy respect and concern for this virus, I am suffering from burnout from the consistent coverage and all the rule changes. From restaurants to sporting events, COVID-19 has caused us to learn new practices of interactions.
With symptoms mirroring previous viruses, you don’t know if this monster has invaded your body or not until you get a test. That is terrifying. Let’s all stay vigilant, alert, cautious and strengthen those immune systems.
9. K-Pop
All teenagers go through phases. My generation was immersed in hip-hop and our parents were like this too shall pass. Now in 2021, hip-hop is a part of most entertainment and its impact has reached South Korea.
In the 2000s, K-dramas were leaking over to the States and it was just a cute, innocent form of Rom-Coms. But the trade off of their movies for our music has led to K-pop.
The tone-deaf tones of boy and girl groups are taking over the pop charts. K-pop is short for Korean popular music. And the stars of this music are the Bangtan Boys.
Also known as BTS, the septet is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 and debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. The members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—co-writes and co-produces much of their own output. I am surprised they would actually want credit for the “music” under the name BTS. BTS is everywhere these days from late night talk shows to TV shows in the state. They have an “Army” of fans and they control several forms of online media. They’re approval rating is more important than the one the president of the United States has. It’s scary because there are others besides BTS already out there. Our radios in U.S. America would soon have the Stray Kids on it. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
8. Spiders
One of the sickest feelings in the world is walking into a spider web. I hate the sight of a tree covered in them. And I will avoid an entire area of a building if I see one designer web because it is already occupied.
If you haven’t picked up on my true feelings of spiders… I hate them and they terrify me. Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs. The description of them gets worse. Let’s add chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom. Those webs come from their ability to spin out silk.
They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all orders of organisms. In other words, there are many different types of spiders for me to avoid and run away from.
7. COVID-19 Vaccine
What’s in it? Why are they giving away free stuff to take this?
Is it really safe? Should it be tested longer?
I am a part of the millions who are already fully vaccinated. And my second dose was a horrible experience. It tore my joints up and I was weak for about a week. But I am still alive and my phone never stuck to the side of my vaccinated shoulder. I understand the concerns of those who are vaccine-hesitant. And those who practice a healthy lifestyle with proper diet, exercise and low stress feel they have a natural way of keeping their immune system strong.
But the reason the COVID-19 vaccine makes my countdown as scary is because of the divide it has created in families, political parties, friends, professionally, spiritually and mentally. I am going to watch the arguing from the sideline with a glass of beet juice.
6. Job Market
In recent months all I see around Memphis is “Now Hiring” signs. Below the major headline are a list of benefits for applying, accepting and working those jobs. Then in the next breathe the headlines around the nation are people complaining about the lack of employment opportunities.
The record number of job openings around the U.S. and the number of workers for those roles is forcing Wall Street to reassess the pace of the economic recovery. Because of the pandemic, the job market became a reset button smashed by the American people.
Increasing employment eventually results in increased consumer spending, which is the biggest driver of economic growth. Without the former, analysts have said, it will take longer than expected for the economy to operate at some semblance of a pre-pandemic normal.
According to the Labor Department job openings reached 10.9 million in July. At the same time 8.7 million Americans fit into the category of unemployed. And many people don’t want to go back to work leaving those who are brave enough to clock in stressed, worn out and mentally drained.
If you run into car trouble, you might have to wait a week or two before a mechanic can get to it. A waiting-list for car service because there are not enough qualified car doctors. Wow, this is really terrifying.
Now we have longer waits, unsatisfying customer conditions and poorer customer services. It is scary just to go out to the grocery store to purchase items.
5. Retail prices
Which leads into my No. 5 pick, the prices of consumer goods. The price of food, cars, homes and everyday household items is ridiculous. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. The rise has been 5.3 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in August. Which is up 4.0 percent over the year. It’s scary if this trend doesn’t stop soon. Maybe I need to learn how to start planting my own food to save cost in at least one category.
4. Tom Brady’s longevity
OK, when Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000, Bill Clinton was still president. This dude has won 7 Super Bowls, played in 10 of them while George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden occupied the White House.
I think Tom Brady was playing football when the British invaded Washington D.C. back in 1814. The scary part is this dude is getting better and looking younger.
His locks flow from his handsome face and his arm is still popping out lasers for the Tampa Bay Bucs. He is looking like a strong candidate for an eighth Super Bowl title. Please Tom share your secrets and tell me your diet plan at least. You’re getting healthier and stronger during a freaking pandemic.
3. Snakes
From Adam and Eve to the hit movie “Anaconda,” we should have avoided snakes since Day One. With a well-earned devious reputation, snakes are nobody’s friend. We all know how these things look. Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. I’ve never touched a snake but I bet they are slimy and scaly.
Not all snakes are poisonous but I am not a tester. I won’t be finding out anytime soon. My running day are nearly over but let a snake appear out of nowhere, I will give Flo-Jo, Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt a run for their lives.
2. Social Media
The usual suspects are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. But the worst of them all at the moment is TikTok. Now even folks my age are submerged in the culture of trying to be funny, entertaining and thought-provoking through this app.
It wasn’t OK when our teens were dedicating so much time and effort to the platform. Now challenges, trends and soapboxes have transferred to TikTok. It is scary how this app has taken over the United States and so many people think they are a comedian, political pundit or the social authority for others.
1. Lack of common sense
This transitions into my biggest fear as of Oct. 14, 2021, our lack of common sense in the world. I’ll keep it short and sweet. Our need for consistent attention, approval and affirmation has made us selfish and narcissistic. Now most of our decisions are motivated by what is best for us. We no longer esteem others higher than ourselves. If we have a problem or an issue, all around us must suffer or adjust to our wants.
We used to be able to handle things under the radar or one-on-one. Now we have a trend of World War III from our offices to our schools to churches to our homes. That is the thing that is scaring me the most.
THOMAS SELLERS JR. is the editor of The Millington Star and both the sports editor and a weekly personal columnist for West 10 Media/Magic Valley Publishing. Contact him by phone at (901) 433-9138, by fax to (901) 529-7687 and by email to [email protected].
