I’m gonna say this once. ‘Gonna say it simple. And I hope to God for your sakes you all listen. There are no Abominable Snowmen. There are so Sasquatches. There are no Bigfeet! ~Harry and the Hendersons

Kyle at Youth Group's Easter Egg Hunt 2010

Probably about two summers ago my family took Kyle camping.  My mom, dad, my sister and Kyle went for an overnight stay not too far from where we live.  Unfortunately, I had a lot of work to do that weekend so I didn’t attend the adventure, but I heard all about it.  They packed up the fishing gear, the tent and off they went.  Evidently, as nighttime approached and they were nearing the camp site to pitch the tent, a snake crossed the road.  Nothing really unusual about that, they were after all, out in no man’s land.  Naturally, dad ran over the reptile without skipping a beat and proceeded to pronounce his disdain for snakes.  Dad, being dad, didn’t pay attention to Kyle’s reaction and didn’t realize Kyle’s thought process at that moment.  Then, I guess dad asked Kyle if he wanted to pitch the tent or just get a hotel room.  On a side note, I can tell my parents are getting older when they give a choice like that.  Also, keep in mind, the snake flattening instance was not far from the potential camp site.  Remember, this all happened within minutes of each other.  Naturally, Kyle wanted a hotel room, not because he doesn’t like camping or pitching the tent, but because he associated the snake with the camp site.  Mom said she saw the look on Kyle’s face during the short lived episode, which amounted to about 15 minutes of a conversation.  Mom said she instantly saw Kyle associate the snake, slithering on the ground, with their camp site and his sleeping quarters, residing on the ground.  I’m guessing Kyle never teamed the idea of snakes with camping before, but at that moment it was plain as day.

Kyle playing with a bunny at Youth Group Easter Egg Hunt 2010

So now the story of the Sasquatch.  While they were laying in bed watching TV in a hotel room, a show came on about the Sasquatch.  Nicole said he was really tired but insisted on watching the show.  It was the same type of program that’s been on TV a thousand times before.  It usually includes sitings, supposed evidence, testimonials and such.  Now, while the show unfolded and Kyle intently watched the program, I’m guessing no one was aware of what was going on in Kyle’s head.  By the time the reality altered exposé ended, Kyle was now concerned he was going to run into a Sasquatch!  Nicole said she told him, ‘Kyle that’s just a show’, followed by Kyle’s response, “Ya Aunt Nikki, it’s on TV so it must be real.”  What?  I had no idea that Kyle believed just because a show appears on TV it makes it true.  Yikes!  Nicole called me to inform me about Kyle’s newest fear, the fear of the Sasquatch.

Supposedly, this obsession went on throughout the short weekend.  By the time they got home, dad was teasing Kyle about the Sasquatch and I couldn’t help but laugh.  I instantly tried to help the conversation by reinforcing what everyone was telling him, that it’s not real and the Sasquatch is not going to get him.  I even joked around saying, “You take Kyle for a weekend and you bring him back damaged goods.”

Being apart of our family, we don’t show much mercy, especially with a fear such as that one.  To this day, we still tease Kyle about the Sasquatch.  Especially if a show comes on TV regarding the subject.  In fact, because of Dad’s infatuation with outdoor TV and hunting shows, I always see this advertisement for Yeti coolers, another name for the Sasquatch.  Although I don’t think Kyle is aware and gets the humor in that commercial, but I totally crack up.

When dad took Kyle out hunting this past year, there were a number of joking comments thrown at Kyle.  ‘Watch out for the Sasquatch!’ and  ‘Don’t shoot the Sasquatch!’

Now what brought on this story?  Recently, we watched the movie Harry and the Hendersons, you know the comical movie about the Sasquatch that lives with the family and destroys their house.  Needless to say, Kyle got a kick out it and really enjoyed the story.

Yep Kyle will never live that one down.  I guess everyone has their own Sasquatch.  Of course most fears have actual phobia names.  Such as my sister who has arachnophobia (fear of spiders), my mom who has acrophobia (fear of heights) and let’s not forget mine, musophobia (fear of mice).  I don’t think dad has an actual phobia, he just hates snakes, but if he had the fear, it would be ophidiophobia (fear of snakes).  Although I wouldn’t call Kyle’s awareness for the Sasquatch a phobia.  After all, he is not paralyzed by the fear of the Sasquatch.  He still goes hiking through the woods with me and hunting with my dad.  But you know it’s an awareness that lives in the back of his mind.  So what’s your Sasquatch?