What's seven feet tall, has red eyes and wings?

I've never much cared for Richard Gere.

I'm talking about Richard Gere, the actor. I want to make that distinction just in case there might be a Richard Gere, mechanic, or Richard Gere, accountant, out there who might think I'm talking about them.

But this Gere guy — the actor, not the mechanic or accountant — always struck me as sort of a sissy boy type.

Of course, he's not a sissy boy. He just happens to be extremely successful, wealthy and handsome and all the ladies think he's just so cool, which, of course, makes mortal guys like me jealous, so to try to offset all those wonderful attributes, we say something to try to make him sound less manly.

But anyway, this Gere guy - the actor, not the mechanic or accountant - was in a movie a few years ago called, "The Mothman Prophecies," which was based on a book written by John A. Keel.

I watched this movie shortly after it came out, despite the fact Richard Gere - the actor, not the mechanic or accountant - was in it, because the trailer sort of intrigued me and I'm usually interested in films of the horror genre.

This was a HUGE mistake on my part because "The Mothman Prophecies" nearly literally scared me to death. More than once I almost jumped out of my seat while watching it. On at least a dozen occasions, cold chills ran up my spine (or is it DOWN my spine?) and there were a few times when it took my breath away.

That movie lingered in my head for the longest time. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat. I was distracted, disturbed and obsessed with the danged thing.

The (supposedly true) story line is basically this: For 13 months in a small town on the Ohio River, people began seeing this creature that was six or seven feet tall that had wings that stretched to a span of 20 feet or so when extended. It had no noticeable head but had these huge red glowing eyes that were sort of set between its shoulder blades. People who saw it, especially those who saw it when it was airborne, said it looked like a giant bat - or moth. The eyes were the dominant feature. Folks who saw the creature claimed the eyes had a sort of hypnotic effect and produced a state of pure horror, resulting in the onlooker being paralyzed.

The appearance of this winged creature coincided with several other strange occurrences, including frequent UFO sightings and unworldly looking "men in black" showing up.

It took me the longest time to get over that movie. I imagined seeing big glowing red eyes everywhere I looked. Anytime I was in the dark, I had this horrible feeling of foreboding, like something - something moth-like - was watching me.

So I'd start trying to find things to help take my mind off the Mothman, you know, like playing golf or riding my motorcycle or spending time (GASP!) helping my wife with chores around the house.

But I finally shook the after-effects of that film and its accompanying storyline.

Until…

…A few weeks ago, we got a photo for our "Ledger Readers on the Road" feature from the mission team at Broad River Baptist Church in Blacksburg. It showed them in front of the Mothman statue at the town where these sightings allegedly occurred - which, of course, rekindled my interest in the whole story.

You see, strange tales like this are sort of like car wrecks - you want to look away, but you can't. This photo made me want to start learning more about the Mothman. So, against my better judgment and despite the fact the movie nearly killed me, I started trying to learn more about the Mothman. I ordered and read the book by Keel. It was even scarier than the movie. There are places in there where I actually threw the book down and backed away like it was a poisonous snake.

I was afraid to get in the shower. I was afraid I'd be in there and the Mothman would suddenly pop up - TA DA! - from around the corner and my head would explode from fright.

I downloaded the movie on my iPod but haven't been able to drum up the courage to watch it again. To tell you the truth, just knowing it's on my iPod is sort of freaking me out.

So here I am now, still intrigued by the Mothman and wanting to know more about him but dreading finding out what he might actually be.

I mean, what if he's a space alien?

Or a monster from another dimension?

Or Al Gore in some sort of experimental fuel-saving aviation travel outfit?

And I'm back to trying to find things to distract me from this newfound obsession with the Mothman and all the horror associated with him.

For example, I've been invited to a couple of weddings, so I've got to do some shopping, which means I'll have to run down to the Dollar General and buy some gifts.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep a can of Raid House & Yard Wasp & Hornet Spray within reach at all times.

That's the closest thing I can find to the kind of repellent I need.

They didn't have any Mothman Killer Spray at the Wal-Mart.

Klonie Jordan (editor@gaffneyledger.com) is executive editor of The Gaffney Ledger.