Spiders 0; Jesus II
This past weekend I was going to trek up to Merrill, WI — just about a half-hour north of my hometown of Wausau — to attend a showing of THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION, a low-budget monster flick by writer/producer/director Bill Rebane which was filmed in the area. The Merrill Historical Society has a whole exhibit (Saturdays Oct. 29, Nov. 5 from 11 am to 2 pm; Thursdays Oct. 27, Nov. 3, Nov. 10, From 4 pm to 7 pm) celebrating the film, called "Bill Rebane's Hollywood Midwest."
Alas, it was my turn to get COVID.
I’d just gotten my flu shot and so attributed the malaise I felt to that — but upon taking TWO at-home tests, I got the dreaded (but expected) positive.
So, GIANT SPIDERS will have to wait — but, rest assured there will eventually be a report from the exhibit in this space.
Other Plans
A couple weeks back, “Go to the Packer game!” was the mantra tossed at me from all over. An old friend had arranged tickets for a boys’ excursion. “It’ll be fun!” my wife said, encouraging me to take the leap back into crowds and shared breathing space.
Well, you know what? It was fun. The event was conceived and set up by Jim K., a friend from grade school days, using notably — and, in his case, characteristically — enigmatic techniques (a multi-column cover letter, typeset and including photos, sent in a large envelope). Also present was Todd G., and Jim K.’s lovely and instantly assimilated wife, Janet, who filled the gap for a third grade school chum who could not attend.
Jim K. is nothing if not a gamer - he kept the helmet on all day.
To say the very least, it was an experience well worth a couple days on my back afterward. Jim K. — who I hadn’t spoken to in three decades — pulled off a great event.
I may suggest we make THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION exhibit another shared event…
New Plans; Old Book
When it became clear I would be quarantining/recovering at home rather than taking in the sights and sounds at the Merrill Historical Society, I made myself comfortable in my bedroom and began sorting some of the books in the “netherworld cabinet” that exists below my main bedroom bookshelves. It’s a bit of a catch-all and “I’ll get to that later” space for some un-categorizable books.
And this one leapt out at me.
I suddenly remembered stumbling upon this book in the Wausau Public Library during an early-teen Shroud of Turin phase (I ate up that fraud hook, line, and sinker). By some miracle, way back in the mid-seventies, 12 year-old me paged through Jesus II and landed on a page that described action… in Wausau, WI, at St. Michael’s Church, with our real-life pastor, Father Krasowski, mentioned.
I’d forgotten all about this enigma!
The author has another book in the series called The Kocska Formula that is teased thusly:
A rebellious young priest from the Los Angeles Diocese enters a shadow world of suspense, intrigue, and unpriestly special ministries.
You had me at “unpriestly special ministries.”
Still, I hadn’t read the whole book, so I have no idea what approach this pseudonymous author took.
Multi-Tasking During Recuperation
So, upcoming will be a short series of articles exploring Jesus II — even the non-Wausau parts! — and the enigma that is “Frank Riley.” This will encompass a look at his other work, including the Hugo Award winner he co-authored that is regularly referred to as the worst book ever to win a Hugo.
Story items to look forward to:
Henry Kissinger traveling to northern Wisconsin, ostensibly to “fish.”
The book is dedicated to William F. Buckley Jr., who also appears in the narrative many times.
“Jesus had no notes.” That is an actual line in the book.
Until next time …