Middle School Fever Dream

Thank you, D P., Denver, CO for your review of the Salem Witch Museum in Salem, MA.

Welcome to my youth! Those of us who grew up in New York know that the only place your school will ever take you on a trip is Boston, and always at the most disgustingly frigid time of year for some reason. I'm assuming nowhere else in the Northeast would welcome a horde of rambunctious, minimally supervised kids with open arms.

In fifth grade, I was the only student in the entire class who voted to go to Washington D.C. instead. So, to Boston we went for my first foray into the world of the Salem Witch Museum, Duck Tours, and Quincy Market on a jobless 5th-grade budget. Then again, in middle school. Then, again, in high school.

I can safely say that your review of the "museum" is 100% accurate. You really hit the nail on the head with the "outdated loud audio track straight out of a cassette player's mid-life crisis" comparison. At 11 years old, I wouldn't have known what that meant, but by 13, I was certainly jaded enough by the experience to agree with this statement.

A friend of mine and her husband recently visited the museum, and she referred to the mannequins as "Chuck E. Cheese marionettes." Brian V., Huntersville, NC referred to them as "paper machè dolls." All of these are correct. All of these point out the only spooky part about it. For the three people who clicked the "Helpful" button, I hope you heeded this warning.

Thank you for allowing me to partake in some angsty nostalgia. To this day, the highlight was always the Dippin' Dots available for purchase at the cafeteria next to the gift shop. Not to be missed.

Five out of five stars.

See you next Tuesday.