Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tracks In The Snow

Ghosts, Spirits, Spooks, Haints, I could name a few more if I sat and thought about it a bit, there are a lot of stories about life after death and whether you actually come back as a spirit if you feel you have left unfinished business, well I don’t suppose there are very many who feel they have done everything they can or want before they check out of this life so that would leave a whole lot of us coming back to make sure we were ready to go.

I remember when I was a kid the house where my Grandma lived in Easley, SC was actually an old mansion type house that had been divided into several apartments, the closet in her bedroom always freaked me out because behind the hanging clothes there was a set of stairs, I asked her where they went and her reply was that she had really never thought about it and that they most likely used to go upstairs, she told me about the house being a mansion in the past, this place was old the copper looking push button light switches and the ceilings were so far up it really amazed me and made me wonder what this place had looked like before. Spending the night there left you feeling kind of creepy because of all the pops and cracks that go with a house settling at night, and for a while the sound of the baby crying in the upstairs apartment made you wonder why the Mom did nothing to comfort this little one rather than leave it to cry most of the night, I figured if they had a baby then most likely there were kids who might want to play so I went around back and climbed the stairs up to the apartment, when I got to the top the windows were not covered and the door was standing partially opened, I pushed it the rest of the way open to see a completely vacant apartment that was covered in dust.

I went back down and around the house to make sure if there was another upstairs apartment and sure enough that was the only one, I asked my Grandma about the apartment and she said the people moved out a long time ago, I told her about hearing the baby cry and she said yes you will hear that once in a while, she told me the people who lived there before lost their baby in that apartment, that the little one had died in it’s sleep and they moved away shortly after that. I hunkered down a bit deeper in the covers when the little one cried later that night.

We moved to a house in Greenville, SC, it was pretty big and we all got our own rooms so to say other than my Brother and I had to share one, it was a good neighborhood with a lot of elderly people who became our friends pretty quick, Mr. Kilby lived next door and he spent most of his time sitting on the porch smoking a cigar, there were a set of elderly twin sisters who lived behind us that I did yard work for and they filled us in on the history of everyone who lived in the area, it was pretty fascinating sitting and listening to them share their stories.

We had a big snow come in and we were left stranded in the house for a few days, late one night we were sitting at the kitchen table playing “Crazy Eights” a card game that we played when there was nothing else to do, the back door rattled and we saw a face looking through the glass it was an old man wearing a hat and looked like a heavy coat from what we could see, rather than open the door we woke up my Step Dad who had already turned in for the night and he came to investigate, there was no one at the door and we got chewed out for waking him for a joke since no one would be out in this weather, next morning we go out the back door and at the bottom of the steps there were tracks in the snow, this would show us who it was so we followed the tracks completely around the house and right back to the steps, these tracks did not lead out of the yard nor on to the front porch just started and ended at the back steps, Step Dad or Mom couldn’t explain this, the elderly twins told me that the man who lived there before always sat on the back steps and wore a hat when he was outside, said he was retired and liked the back yard so that’s where he spent his time, Mr. Kilby next door said that “Old Man Hill” always wore a hat and a long coat when it was cold and would either sit out back or walk around the house, when I asked what happened to him Mr. Kilby said they found him dead in his bed and then yall moved in.

I got to be pretty close with my Dads Father after I moved to New Mexico, Granddaddy was a practical joker and storyteller and could take up a good bit of your day telling you of days gone by, if he ever said “Do You Remember” then your best bet was to pull up a chair and get ready for either a history lesson or a good laugh, either way you were going to be there a while, he told me a lot of family stories about his Dad and also gave me a few stories to laugh at my own Dad about, he always said he couldn’t wait until I had a son so he could tell him stories about me. Granddaddy died in 1981 and my oldest Son wasn’t born until 1983 after I had moved down to Odessa, Texas, one night I was sitting in the middle of the living room floor actually changing my sons diaper believe it or not when I looked up to see what looked like Granddaddy standing leaning against the wall at the end of the hallway smiling into the living room at me, I looked down at my son then back up and that was the last time I saw Granddaddy.

Now I can’t explain babies crying in an empty apartment or a ghost making tracks in the snow, I just know what I have witnessed in my lifetime and yes the first two happened when I was a kid but I know what I saw and felt at the time, now for the last one I was already grown up and it wasn’t like the Ghost Whisperer where you shed tears at the end of the story as the spirit crosses over into the light, I didn't see or sense any crossings it was like he was there and then he was gone, I thought it was pretty neat for Granddaddy to look in and whether he said it or not I could almost hear “Do You Remember”

15 comments:

  1. Oh Jimmy! This gave me shivers, goosebumps and a big ol' lump in the throat!! I just had a dream about my father last night. He was just getting off a plane and I rushed up to hug him. I am sure he has passed over, but he still comes to see me in my dreams.

    Jimmy, you've made Betty cry this morning. Now I have to go put another pound of mascara on before I go out.

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  2. OMG...a had CHILLS reading this! And like Bossy Betty shared, I too was moved by the part about seeing your Granddaddy.

    What a touching experience.

    I totally believe in ghosts and spirits, and believe that they can communicate with us.

    I use to live in a garage apartment behind an old house in Florida. One day while visiting my landlord in their home, I saw what seemed to be the spirit of a young man with a beard, running up a flight of stairs. It happened so quickly; totally catching me off guard, I actually jumped. I was the only one in the room at the time, so no one else saw it. To this day, I often wonder who it was.

    Thank you for sharing such an AWESOME post, my friend!

    Loved it!!!!

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  3. Okay, my skin is totally covered with chill bumps. Those were great stories. I have several about this kind of thing myself that are too long to put here. But I'm gonna post them.
    I'm glad you came out with this, because people usually just laugh at me when I tell them the things that have happened to me, or that I "feel." Wow...
    The story about your grandfather was really nice.

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  4. Wow. I got chills reading that! I've never encountered ghosts. Not sure how I'd react!

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  5. What an engaging story. I am not sure if I believe in spirits but I beleive in energy and connecting with people on that level...even if they have gone somewhere else...after death. I have had dreams that have come true and I have some strange ability if I think about someone long and hard enough they appear in one way or another in my life. I love the story about your grandfather. It was so touching. But you have given me some hope...that when i do lose people that are important to me I might get to see them one day again. It is a comforting thought.

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  6. I think that Grand daddy just had to peek in and get a look at your son.
    When my dad died a few years ago, an old clock that was in my parents' house that had not been wound up in years suddenly started working again.
    My mom told us 'Dad fixed the clock!"

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  7. My mom had a similar experience when I was born with her mom. You might have read that so I think that is very, very cool about your grand daddy.

    The baby crying and the old man hill seems like their energies were so strong they got left behind a little. Always interesting. Ghost Hunters is one of our favorite shows.

    This was a great Halloween post Jimmy! Boo!

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  8. THAT is some COOL stuff!

    Loved it!

    John

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  9. Will never be one to doubt what you saw. I am a firm believer. Love it!

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  10. Good Morning Betty, Sorry didn't mean to stir up the tears but this subject does get the emotions going, funny you dreamed about your father just before I posted this I am sure that didn't help any, it's nice you still dream about him this is what keeps our family memories alive.

    Thank You Ron, It would be neat if you could research somehow and find out who the person may have been, friends or family around the neighborhood may know depending on how long ago the person passed.

    Hey Pat, I have seen those looks and have been laughed at also, but these things do happen and I believe with all my heart on the things I have seen, I look forward to you posting yours also.

    Hey Kristy, I suppose none of us really know either until it happens, I don't believe they are out to hurt us we may hut ourselves when we see them sometimes though :)

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  11. Thank You Susie, It is a comforting thought that our loved ones can remain so to say, whether they be ghosts that have not passed over or the persons energy still within us it is a blessing to remember and feel their presence once again.

    Yes Sir Joe, I too think GrandDaddy was just peeking in to give him a look over, the story about your Father and the clock is one I can see happening I bet he stepped in and fixed that clock.

    Hey Angelia, I will have to look back for your post, I believe there are so many energies left behind out there that sometimes we who were not actually close to the family just gets swept up in it. We may have to re post all of our tales come Halloween.

    Thank You John, Glad you enjoyed it my Friend.

    Hey Ms A, Our Friends and Family members who have passed stay with us in one way or another I think and I have seen this too many times to not believe.

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  12. Jimmy thanks for that and not being afraid to step out there and tell your story. I had a similar experience (lots of them actually but only one involving my Grandfather) shortly after my Grandaddy died. I was young. I think around 11 and my parents would not let me go to the funeral because they thought I was too young and I was SO upset that I didn't get to go and say goodbye. The night after his funeral I was going through a room to go upstairs to my room and could swear my grandaddy was standing there in the doorway just smiling at me. I turned to look back in the living room to see if anyone was behind me (they weren't) and turned back around and he was gone. I think he knew I was upset and was trying to let me know it was ok. He was one of my favorite people ever in my life. So, yes, I believe YOUR grandaddy was just checking in to let you know. And I wouldn't doubt your son probably saw him when he was young and just doesn't remember.

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  13. Thank You Peg,

    I think there are more stories out there just like this than people realize, I am with you on thinking my son may have seen Granddaddy and just don't remember, little kids see these things and it doesn't frighten them :)

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  14. That baby crying, just creeped me out!! I don't think I would have stayed with grandma anymore!

    So sweet of granddaddy visiting with you and your son.

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  15. Yes Heather the hair still stands on the back of my neck when I think of this one, the house has long since been torn down but I still wonder at times.

    I was happy for Granddaddy to stop by :)

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