The other day our friend and fellow blogger Earl made a comment about a monster hiding under the bed.

Got me to thinking... (UHOH)

When I was a kid I was absolutely convinced that there WAS indeed such a monster that had taken up residence in that very place. So sure, in fact, that I took a running leap into my bed for many years. When I say many years... I mean many years. I was nearly a teenager when this phenomenon stopped haunting my mind... and perhaps stopping me from becoming the next Olympian medal winning pole vaulter.

How, you may wonder, did I get to the point where I could get into the bed without the flying squirrel approach?

It began with logic dictating that they could not in actuality be anything under there except a few socks and the odd skittle. I proved this theory by turning on ALL of the lights, clutching a flashlight and LOOKING beneath the bed (and eating some skittles)... and then forcing myself to stand there with my toes under the bed for a long period of time. Though this filled me with irrational terror initially, eventually it worked. Logic overrode the fear and I was able to get into bed like normal people.

Though I have to admit that on occasion (ie, after watching the Grudge) I am still tempted to take a little hop...