For the past several weeks, my mom has been looking forward to this month's debut of the new series "Ghost Intervention" on TLC.
(Cue spooky music here)
Not only does she enjoy watching ghost stories on TV as if they were appointment television, but she adamently believes in them.
And that brings us to this week's Truthful Tuesdays question:
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Ever since I came up with this post, I've been singing this line from the Christmas carol, "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year":
And tales of the glories,
Of Christmases long, long ago!
OK, seriously, what does Christmas have to do with ghosts?
At first glance, your answer is probably what mine was: Absolutely Nothing.
But then I thought about it a little bit more. Each year at Christmas, families gather to share stories of all kinds, but, if your family is like mine, then you probably hear endless stories from some of your oldest family members about the "Good Ole Days". And that's where my family's ghost story begins.
Each year, my grama-- the family matriarch-- regails us with the following tale:
"I was sitting at the bar when suddenly, Auntie Ursula's husband, Charlie, came up to talk to me. That might sound normal to you, but keep in mind, Charlie had been dead for six years by this point. But you wouldn't know it by looking at him. He looked great, for a guy who'd been six feet under for so long. Anyway, Charlie told me he wished he'd been able to go to the wedding to see his grandson, T, finally tie the knot. He told me he'd come back for one last dance with Auntie Ursula.
"That's when I got a little worried. Because, as all good Slovenians know (casting another knowing glance to the younger generation), the appearance of a dead spouse only means one thing: he's come to collect his wife. So, it wasn't a matter of "if" in my head. It was a matter of when. Not wanting to alarm the wedding party, I kept this to myself as we left the bar-- and Charlie-- behind and headed off to the reception.
"Maybe I should have said something. Maybe it would have made a difference. All I know is, half way through the soup course (another Slovenian wedding tradition-- and always made from liver dumplings), Auntie Ursula bit it. Dead as a doornail. I guess Charlie got what he came for."
So in our family-- where every fourth wedding seems to coincide with a funeral-- we do believe in ghosts.
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Fascinating family tradition!
And we don't really have any great ghost stories in our family. I've never given ghosts much thought.
Dropped by from SITS.
I remember you telling me this story, but it still gave me chills when I read it! I've never had a "ghost encounter", but if a close loved one passed away, I think I would find comfort in believing their presence lived on.
What a great ghost story!
I definitely belive in ghosts. My mom grew up in the house that her grandpa built. Back in the day, they would have the wakes for the deceased in what is now the living room. We've always thought the house was haunted. The spookiest thing that happened there is that one night, my grandparents heard a thud from upstairs. They went to see what it was. The glass from an old picture frame was lying on the floor, in the middle of the hallway (all in one piece). The frame was still in it's place on the wall.
I absolutley believe! Numerous people in our family have had experiences. Living in a very historic part of VA, I have been in homes with a lot of past. For example, my husband's house growing up was a hospital in the Civil War. That is where the most things have happened. I have always liked telling ghost stories. Thanks for posting about it!
Visiting from SITS...have a Merry Christmas!!
Back in the Victorian times, they didn't celebrate Halloween like we do, and really only came together once a year for Chrsitmas, and it was then that they told ghost stories to each other, much like we would at camp fires. I found it fascinating!
I totally believe in ghosts and spirits. I believe my Grandma always checks in on us.
Karen
Wow, that is an interesting story for sure!
I do believe in ghosts. Well, ghosts of dead spirits that is. I believe that they are around us and although I don't have a story like that, it's just a feeling I have.
Great topic! Slightly spooky, but great. ;-) Sorry I forgot it was Tueday!
Tamara
www.theunexperiencedmom.com
Wow! I think I might be afraid to attend one of your family weddings. :)
I myself have often wondered what the "scary ghost stories" lyric had to do with anything relating to Christmas.
But on to your question.. First I must say, in regards to your story, WHOA. That's amazing! And yes, I do believe in ghosts. I'm not sure that I believe that people stick around after they die - more like their energy imprints in the universe and sticks around a bit. I believe in reincarnation and that the universe "recycles" energy, so to speak... But I believe it's completely possible for us to leave mortal imprints on this world. Great post!
YIKES! I would definitely be planning my wedding so that it wasn't the 4th in line!
~WM
Come visit my page! I have a ghost pic!
I do believe in ghosts. I've never had any personal experience with them, but I really do believe. Your story is wild!
Ummm, all goose pimply over here! That was a great story...a really good read. Okay. Here's my ghost story:
When I was young my mother was involved with all things occult. It was scary for a young impressionable child such as myself. One night, while in bed trying to fall asleep, I felt my cat jump onto my bed. He proceeded to crawl on top of the blanket and plant himself firmly on my chest. I was a scrawny, weak thing and he was a fat cat and pretty heavy. I reached down to scoot him off and, you guessed it, nothing was there! I jumped out of bed so fast and decided I was going to sleep in the family room that night.
WOW, thanks for sharing your story! I do believe in Ghosts but aside from using the Ouija Board a few times with some odd experiences there I haven't had any ghost stories to tell :-(
This is a really neat thing you do every Tuesday!
Great story! WOW. My mom saw her mother the day I was born. She died while my mom was pregnant with me. THAT story always gives me chills - in a good way.
That is a hair raising experience for sure. I got full body chills.
Love this question! And I love the way I can totally picture your Grandmother telling that story! Like someone else said, I would delay my wedding or elope if i was the fourth in line. LOL
It was fun playing along! Yes, Niffenegger wrote "The Time Traveler's Wife." I love that book! It's worth buying if you can't get it from the library.
Interesting story!! I guess I am on the fence! We don't have any family ghost stories but I do love a good one!
I want to believe in ghosts, but I'm STILL waiting for something to happen that convinces me! lol
PS- I gave you a blog award!
Hey there
OK I'm a little late .. Sorry
But yes i DO beleive in ghosts, always remeber my mum telling me how, when she was in hospital they did a Ouija board and no one in the ward knew her middle name and as she HATED it ( it was Violet ) she never told anyone it....but yes the board spelt it out...freaked my Mum out she ran and hid lol
Love reading ghost stories and ..have you all watched the Excorsim of Emily Rose? Awesome film and scared the crap out of me xx
Hi Elizabeth! I wanted to send you a comment about your "Brown Bear" post! I have a 5yo autistic son...who is IN LOVE with all Eric Carle books, esp. Brown Bear and Polar Bear. He reads them constantly. Something fun that I did, was to buy beanie babies to represent all of the animals...and yes..they DO have a blue horse and a purple cat!! A very fun activity to go with the book...and might give mom a break from reading..at least for a few minutes :)
~Shelley