Imagine cruising down a dark, lonely road late one evening, on your way home from a mundane business trip, when suddenly the world as you know it flips upside down.
This is the wild ride Woody Derenberger found himself on, back in 1966. It was November 2nd, ridiculously close to the end of fall, around 7:30 PM. Woody’s mind had to be on the comfy couch waiting at home, perhaps even pondering what was for dinner. But then, well, his dinner plans got scratched off the list by something completely out of this world.
Out of nowhere, a crash shook Woody’s van. His heart probably did a triple flip as he checked his rearview mirror, only to find a brightly lit object barreling down on him. Whatever it was, it wasn’t just any car. This pepperpot-looking thing whizzed over his van and stopped dead ahead on the road. We’re talking full hover mode, defying all the laws of gravity—but more importantly, Woody’s peace of mind.
Frozen with fear, Woody could only watch as a door from this oddball object opened and out walked a man. Nothing too alien-looking about this guy, just an average Joe, except for one tiny detail—his eerie smile and telepathic chit-chat. No lip movement, just pure mind-to-mind conversation. He introduced himself as Indrid Cold, or Mr. Cold if you prefer.
And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t just a one-off encounter. Indrid didn’t just poof out of Woody’s life; they stayed buddies. As it turns out, Indrid decided to pull a “guess-who’s-back” move and showed up again the next day. Mind blown, right?
Woody’s not-so-secret friendship with Indrid sparked a lot of buzz. Hushed talks turned into full-blown media frenzies, with Woody even penning a book titled “Visitors from Lanulos.” While skeptical eyebrows were raised, Woody never flipped on his story. He stuck to his truth like glue.
Now, imagine dealing with passers-by ringing your doorbell at all hours, curious peepers camping in your backyard, and prank calls flooding your phone. For months on end, this was Woody’s life. The pressure didn’t just take its toll on him but rippled through his family’s life, eventually leading to his wife packing up and moving away with the kids. Sadly, Woody and his wife ended up getting divorced amidst this cosmic chaos.
Despite the personal toll, Woody stayed the course, constantly in touch with Indrid. They even hung out often, sometimes late into the night on Woody’s front porch. Spending nearly two hours talking under the stars, Woody learned that Indrid and his buddy Carl Ardo came from Lanulos, a utopian planet tucked away in the Ganymede galaxy. Imagine a place oozing harmony, devoid of hatred and only speaking the language of love and unity. Sounds like a 5-star Airbnb retreat for the soul, doesn’t it?
Lanulos was your perfect Sci-Fi paradise—think modern tech, organic food, telepathic conversations, and a nuclear-powered everything. Sure, not all tech-savvy places wear pants. The inhabitants of Lanulos loved their au naturel lifestyle. Clothes were a “weather only” necessity, and a deep commitment to self-acceptance was their vibe.
Anyhow, when Woody wasn’t busy with his everyday salesman job, Indrid would take him on grand intergalactic tours. One minute they were checking out the Amazon jungle, and next, Woody was aboard their ship, marveling at Saturn’s rings through windows that would open and close with a hush. Soon enough, Woody got an eyeful of Lanulos. From automated homes to floating transportation—Lanulos had it all.
Life on Lanulos was all about serving the community and celebrating sheer happiness. Kids stayed in school until they turned 28, freedom to job-hop was encouraged, and everyone was paid based on their needs—sounds cashless and stress-free, doesn’t it?
But hold tight because it ain’t all glitter and holograms in Woody’s narrative. Woody found himself in a peculiar face-off in a field one evening, dealing with shady characters called humanoids—folks from a different planet disguised as humans. Apparently, these shifty beings were infamous for snatching items and people right off Earth. Indrid and his team played the good cop, managing to get rid of them without any ET battles breaking out.
Through this rollercoaster of a journey, one question probably buzzed in Woody’s mind—why me? Indrid’s mission was heartening, urging Woody to spread the word about peaceful coexistence, pressing world leaders to spill the beans on UFOs, and getting Earthlings ready for cosmic community living.
Woody pressed on, sharing his story far and wide. Despite the mountains of scrutiny, he remained an advocate for truth until he passed in the year 2000. His daughter Tanya picked up the baton, even met Indrid herself, and published her own take in “Beyond Lanulos.” Sadly, Tanya also departed this world recently, but Indrid’s message and the tale keep echoing.
The story of Indrid Cold has been poked, prodded, believed, and debunked. Researchers, skeptics, and curious cats alike have tossed it under microscopes, trying to sift the fact from the fiction. Detractors argue it’s a well-narrated stretch of imagination, while proponents argue Woody’s sincerity and the impeccable details he provided.
Woody’s era tinted his narration—his advanced cultures celebrated the Christian God and preached a 1960s-flavored unity. There’s that warm and fuzzy equality message, sprinkled with slight patriarchal tinges about spaceship piloting. And hey, Indrid’s advanced Polaroid camera technology does sound like a stretch, considering every sci-fi trope we’ve ever seen.
So, what’s the takeaway if hard evidence remains elusive? Despite the cynical lens, the heart of Indrid Cold’s message beats with a universal rhythm. It’s about honesty, peace, and a shared future unblemished by war and divided lines. Whether the tale of Indrid Cold is a legendary lore or an out-of-this-world truth, it’s a beacon for optimism and a nudge towards a better world.
In essence, next time a grinning man starts a conversation in your mind, don’t freak. You’re just touching the fringes of Woody’s universe—where peace is the prime directive, and sharing stories can shape destinies.