I am terrified of E.T.

There. I said it. The whole world knows my deep dark secret. (The whole world being the one person who reads this blog).

I am terrified of E.T.  I saw it when I had just turned 3 years old. My mom took me to the drive in when she was 6 or 7 months pregnant with my sister. I remember we were in the Volvo that my parent’s owned, and my mom had this huge belly that hardly fit behind the steering wheel. I don’t remember most of the movie, but I vividly recall the scene where E.T. is in the tent thing and they’re experimenting on him. For whatever reason, that freaked me out. I’ve not been able to watch the movie since. Oh trust me, I’ve tried. Pretty much every boyfriend I’ve ever had has offered to watch it with me. But I start shaking and crying and freaking out.  It used to be so bad that I’d see the figurine in a toy store, and start having a panic attack. I once went running out of a bar crying, because the commercial came on the TV and caught me off guard. It wasn’t pretty.

I’m a little better now. I don’t have panic attacks as often. I get queasy and my heart races when I see the thing, but I don’t lose my mind completely. As much mind as I have to lose, that is. People used to think it would be funny to send me e-mails with pictures of the stupid creature. SUCH good friends I have. Thankfully, that doesn’t set me off anymore. Take that!

My children will never be allowed to own or watch the movie in my home. They’re more than welcome to watch it at their grandparent’s or aunt’s house, but the first time they point their finger and me and say "E.T. Phone Home" they’re getting drop kicked into outer space.