Ghostbusters

1989, Age 7

My brother and I, and our best friends, would occasionally hunt for ghosts using high-tech detection gadgetry (made out of batteries and duct tape). It was serious business. I recall becoming so caught up in the fantasy of the game that we eventually scared ourselves too badly to continue playing.

The interesting thing was that, compared to my other pretend games, the fantasy was relatively mundane. It took place in the here and now and the setting was our neighborhood, and we were even hunting something that couldn't be seen. If fantasy settings had an uncanny valley, I suppose we were right on the brink.