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Ghost of Dingbat Past?
I've been asked enough times over the years about the two big
dents in the Franklin Memorial Plaque, as visually displayed
for one to see in the embedded photo gallery above.When I decided
to create a digital version of my guide, I figured I would take
advantage of the internet's unlimited digital space and spill the
"dent beans" as I understand it.
About fifteen years ago, I asked a long time tour guide (whom
has since retired) if he had any idea of the genesis of the two
large dents. He told me that he had heard the rumor that it was a
ghost. I said, "A ghost?" He then quickly corrected himself, "Not
a ghost. But a ghost tour guide." He explained:
"Many years ago, a few years after I began my own historical
tours, reputedly a new guide for a local ghost tour company was
making his candlelight tour debut,
pick ax in hand, eventually leading to the Franklin Family
Memorial.
As he excitedly pontificated the embellished
tales of local Granary ghosts he just learned to share, he
reputedly over-zealously tapped the historical Franklin plaque
with the pick ax with great force at least two times, as the
evidence still shows to this day.
Just before he led his
tour back out of the Granary, the newly-minted ghost tour guide
noticed to his horror, via his candlelight, the damage he had done
to the historical Franklin plaque.
That night he confessed
to his apartment roommate of what he had done, the guilt that he
felt, the worry of losing his new job and/or having to pay
significant money to repair the historical plaque. His roommate
attempted to calm him down but the ghost tour guide, still in his
tour apparel and tearfully inconsolable, grabbed his pick ax and
walked out into the night.
Two days later, his alarmed
roommate filed a missing person report with local authorities.
Later that day authorities located the missing ghost tour
guide's pick axe at the edge of Boston Harbor, in the shadow of
the nearby New England Aquarium.
After a couple days of
dragging Boston Harbor, the official search was called off. His
body was never found."
At the conclusion of this tale, I couldn't help but let out a "Holy Macraroni!!! That's an
amazing story!"
The veteran tour guide, himself appearing
close to weeping, let out a long, willowed, "Yeahhhh!"
"And you want to know the amazing part?"
"Uhhh...Yeahhh!"
(bursts out laughing)
"How long I was able to keep a
straight face telling that loaded bit of yarn! I have no clue how
that got there but that clearly was made with some serious,
purposeful blunt force."
So there you have it. The
inspiration for my punny label for the art of tour guide yarn:
"Embellish Relish."
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