A SPIRITED LIFE: The Semi-Fauxtobiographical Tale of a Paranormal Enthusiast

PART TWO: SCOOBY-DOO

I think another thing that fired my passion for the paranormal was watching Scooby-Doo cartoons every Saturday morning. The way the gang got to the bottom of all the ghostly activity was pure slapstick, but the general plot was the investigation itself. Whether it was haunted castles, cursed idols, or animated mummies, the show always provided an education to elementary school children on the basics of paranormal investigation. What I learned as a nine-year old:

 1. Look for an explanation other than “it’s a ghost”. Though Shaggy and Scooby were always quick to run away from any ghoul, mummy, or monster, the rest of the gang usually kept their heads and tried to find out what was really happening.

2. Keep your eyes open for clues. Velma may be legally blind, but when she has her glasses on, she spots all kinds of things. Footprints, strange substances, and secret messages were the typical clues, but these translate into loose pipes, creaky floorboards, and drafty windows in a modern investigation where there isn’t someone trying to scare people away from a goldmine.

 3. Interview the locals. Folklore and legends can give you a good idea of where to look for paranormal activity. This usually came in the form of a warning for the occupants of the Mystery Machine, but asking your local old-timers (and the internet) can give you a good starting point for your investigation. Similar stories about a particular location increases the chances that there is actually something to be found there.

4. Be persistent. The gang never gave up after their first attempt inevitably failed to catch the ghost. This holds true in a real investigation as well. You can’t expect to capture evidence in one night. You may never get any hard evidence, but you have to keep looking.

5. Don’t drive a beat up old van because it will always break down in the middle of nowhere. Enough said.