Don’t Mess With Nessie : My Love Affair With Loch Ness
See that picture? That was my first foray into the wonderful and weird world of cryptozoology at a time when I didn’t even know what the word meant. I was about 8 years old and at the tail end of my fascination with whales. I’d read everything the library had about them and was ready for something new.
Enter Nessie. I can’t remember where I first saw that picture. It was either on In Search Of or in a magazine or newspaper. I just remember the doors of my imagination being blown wide open. I would never be the same. Back in the 70s, there was a lot of interest in the strange creature swimming the depths of Loch Ness in Scotland. It was relatively easy to get my hands on all things Nessie. I devoured it all.
My father saw my budding interest in mythical sea creatures and bought me a book not only about the Loch Ness Monster, but all creatures bizarre and unknown. And so was laid an integral part of the foundation of a future Monster Man.
Out of all the cryptids out there, I think the case for sea creatures is the most solid. We know so little about the pitch fathoms of our seas. As our underwater technology improves, we discover new species of creatures plumbing the depths on an almost daily basis. Personally, I don’t think Nessie lives in the Loch. It’s my belief that if she exists, she kinda gets lost from time to time, slipping from the cold ocean into the Loch for a spell, stirring peoples’ fascination. And in a world where there’s so much doom and gloom, isn’t that a good thing?
So, what is Nessie? Is she a plesiosaur, a remnant from the time of the dinosaurs? Maybe she’s some kind of super sized eel, or a misindentified family of seals? Thanks to my man Scott for this latest article that says sightings of the monster skimming the waters is nothing but the result of a geological phenomenon.
Like all mysterious beasts, I really hope there is some truth to the Loch Ness Monster. Even though the photo that cemented my interest as a child was proven to be a hoax, I still hold out hope.
Like this blog post was too long coming, so is our latest episode of the Monster Men where we talk all things Loch Ness. Can’t believe it took us over 40 episodes to get the the core of my monsterhood. Sit back, put on a kilt, pop open a bottle of good Scotch and enjoy.
Hunter Shea 
Yay for your dad giving you the book and creating Monster Man! I don’t know about wishing Nessie was real though. Most fantasies are best when they stay in the imagination. 🙂
I agree, though I’d like to see one come into the light.
Your dad was an awesome dad 🙂 I think you’re spot on about the oceans still hiding all manner of monsters. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around all the possibilities.
Wow! I too was enamored by Nessie at an early age, and introduced to her/him by Mr. Nimoy. Nessie led to my interest in Bigfoot as well. Love dem monsters. Great episode ; and I agree, The Loch was a fantastically entertaining read. I have Meg sitting on my shelf, guess I should give it a read.
Sounds like we had the same monster indoctrination. Nessie was a gateway drug. Glad you enjoyed the episode. So far, The Loch is the best fiction book I know of written about Nessie.
Hunter – glad I could pass something helpful on.
I grew up a fan of Nessie as well – and I agree in some degree with your thoughts on access in/out of the loch. I seem to remember years ago a show discussing the possibility of caverns that cut under Scotland to the oceans… who knows. 🙂