Many of us have had weird sensations about sensing shadows or shapes out of the corner of our eye, only for them to disappear when we turn to look. In my case it is usually my deceased father, checking up on his set of tools that I use now. The feeling can be comforting or bothersome. When I don’t have the patience, I say, “Dad, bugger off, I know how to do this.”
I only had the one absolutely true paranormal experience. I saw a ghostly apparition back in the seventies and it still has a lasting effect on me. It was of my maternal grandmother who had passed away a few months early. I was dozing on a couch while waiting on the dinner bell. Yes, my mother used an old heavy bronze one that if you weren’t prepared, it could be quite startling.
I detected a presence beside me. I was scared but curious so very gradually opened my eyes. I saw sort of a fog that was slightly wavering, then it slowly took the shape and size of a person. When the formation was completed it was a perfect replica of my grandmother. Alarmed, I could only manage to whisper “Grandma”. I don’t think she heard it but I definitely heard her. She said to me in a reassuring but tremulous voice, “Bobby, I will look out for you the rest of your life.” Ever since, I’ve had many scrapes and encountered big problems, so if she was looking out for me, I’d hate to see the outcomes if she wasn’t.
Afterwards, I worked with various people from the UK, realizing many of them accepted ghosts as a natural phenomenon. I did some research and discovered there were different kinds of ghosts. The most common of all ghosts spotted is usually of a deceased family member or perhaps a historical figure. These ghosts can be friendly or not – but often show themselves to others in a variety of ways. They can become visible, they can speak or make noises, touch you or even emit an odour like perfume or cigar smoke, etc. This is their method to let you know they are there. Experts say that this type of ghost retains its former personality of when they were alive and they can even feel emotions. And often, they are visiting to comfort you or let you know something important. So if you happen to see a lost loved one, chances are they came because you want or need to see them.
Even better than seeing a ghost is seeing someone scared out of their wits because of believing there was a ghost. Years ago when my son and Sheila’s son both around nine or ten were with me on Lookout Road. There happened be the remains of an old abandoned house sitting on the highest part of the hill. I hinted that it might be haunted. They both bit and eagerly wanted to go and see for themselves. I parked the car and we climbed over the fence and up a lengthy hill to a wide open entrance into the house, entered and started exploring. Once separated from them and in an adjoining room I did my best imitation of a scary ghost. It worked. The uncanny sound evoked the boys into believing a spirit of the dead was nearby, intent on taking them back with it. They bolted from that haunted house, down that steep hill with feet barely touching the ground screaming all the way in unison like identical twins might, then over that fence in one tremendous leap, finally coming to a stop on the far side of the car. I finally joined them but not revealing my secret and listened to their excited banter of their life-threatening experience. I was to hear that same story over and over for some years.
It seems that Sheila, my partner, also had a visit from a ghost. She was in her forties at the time, asleep one night and woke up for some reason woke only to see a white dullish light at the foot of her bed. It gradually transformed itself into the shape of a person. She immediately recognized it as an aunt who had died 20 years previous. Not surprised at all, she instead enjoyed the sense of safeness it gave her. She stayed awake for a few minutes analyzing why this happened and concluded her aunt came to convey that the path she had chosen was the right one.
Whether we believe in ghosts or not, it seems kind of reasonable that two kindred spirits, one alive, one not, can reach across and communicate with each other.
