There are many stories heard and told in the course of years. Whether they are true or fiction, it always peeks our interest. This page will either take you down that road of skepticism or fuel to inspire others in listening to your personal story. I encourage many to share their story or even contact me, I’m all ears.
I will start with my personal stories and follow-up with some internet paranormal stories. Each Internet story will be referenced / sited for all to read further if needed. As mentioned in my other categories, everyone is visual so I will display as much imagery as I can. I will include some stories below that are mentioned on other pages in this site. I recommend to read till the end as I will also attach some Podcast links if interested.
OF A DIFFERENT WORLD?
April of 1997. Even though I had my own place and job, misfortune knocked me down. I admit that some of my choices in life were down right horrible. Looking back on it now, I am completely ashamed! Perhaps the thought of a “Knight in Shining Armor” existed and took over any reasoning. Purely love-sick over a guy combined with my admitted nursing syndrome hid the evil from me. When this ill temper showed up that is exactly how I classified it. I thought to myself, can fix him and mend my own attitude. Maybe if I spoke and acted different he would love me as much as I loved him. So, when he requested I pack anything I could to fit into his Jeep Wrangler (I bought), and abandon my lease; I was thrilled to. On his word, we relocated to the state of Colorado. We were able to purchase food and gas on the Shell credit card supplied from his Dad.
I trusted his excuses for not being able to find a job since he was able to sweet talk a local landlord into an apartment. “It was my turn to show some intelligence and get into the workforce.” Gullible as I was.There I went to hit the pavement for a job. I went along with every request he had, until… (deep breath) his temper appeared again. His father found my cell phone number and called me. The credit card “He” was using for our groceries, was not given to him but rather it was stolen. When he finally arrived back at home after being gone three weeks, I questioned him. His answer was to clinch his car keys in his fist and thrash them over my face! Shock struck me just as hard when I fell to the floor faster than my blood. I wasn’t going to wait for another blow, so I stood up and ran into the only bedroom with a lock.
I stayed there until I heard the front door slam close. The next day when he still did not come back, I drove over to my job at Wal-Mart. I begged my co-workers to help me move any stuff I had. A nice girl posted on the employee bulletin board about a room she was renting. All things worked out and boxes in hand, “He” drives up. I understand no one really wants to get involved with domestic violence, so everyone apologetically left. No matter how strong I thought I felt, I was no match. (Deeper breath…) The front door slammed closed again. This time, I was in the same room with him. Before I could even utter a word, he lifted his arm and grabbed a fistful of my hair. After getting a good grip, he lowered his arm enough for me to fall to the ground. He dragged into the kitchen and then forced me upright to face the window. He cupped the back of my head to shove my face into his home-made bomb on the sill and threatened to use it. His combined ingredients in some dark water of a baby food jar. Oddly, it had more of a stench up close! When I managed to wiggle away, his fingers were still able to grab a hold of my belt loop and drag me back towards him. In an instant, both of his hands went on my neck to cause everything to be blurry. But, he must have let loose, since my next memory was being on the carpet and looking up at the ceiling. He was gone. In the coming weeks, I prepared to move back into my parent’s house. I did not leave without having one more shock though. I was pregnant!
I made the decision to be a single mother, yet again. It’s nice to know family is always there. I was about 7 months pregnant with my daughter and feeling extremely depressed. To fathom having another child I could not provide for, plummeted my mood constantly. Reluctantly, I made the choice to go through an adoption. I felt I was doing the responsible thing for not only myself but for my unborn child. The adoption I picked was represented as “Open”. This is a process where you hand-pick the parents from their organization and have visitation throughout their lives. It tries to relieve the stress on both sides. My family understood my decision with the exception of my mom. She did not understand, agree, nor support. She continuously tried to change my way of thinking. Being the kind-hearted woman she was, her anticipation of having a granddaughter was astounding. My grief was constantly pulling at my emotions. I did not know what to do.
One late morning I was in the front living room watching television. The chime of the front door signaled it opened and closed. I wasn’t expecting anybody to come home and was still in my pajamas. I leaned around the divided wall to get a view of the door. My 8-year-old son was standing in the foyer. I laid down my cereal by the lamp and got up from the couch to walk toward him. Hmm, why is he not in school? Hey, how did he get home! Before I could reach him, he makes it to the banister of the stairway and runs up the steps. I yelled for him,
Where are you going, why aren’t you in school?
I climbed the steps, holding onto the railing, but just couldn’t match his speed to catch up. When I reached the game room at the top of the steps, he already made it down the hall by the bathroom. I yelled,
Why aren’t you in school? What’s wrong and why are you running away from me?
I was hoping for a chance to slow down while he was not moving. Climbing steps took a lot of energy out of me. He simply stared at me and ran in the bathroom. The door slammed closed and changed my mood from curiosity of him to anger. Forget why he is not answering, why is he making me chase him and not listening to me? When did he change clothes from the ones I dressed him in this morning? I also run over to the bathroom and open the door as I call out his name. All I saw, was my own image staring back at me from the huge mirror above both sinks. He is not in there! I didn’t run up all those steps for no reason, I was not yelling to myself. Where could he have gone from the constricted entrance? Just like the movies, I look at the only place I cannot see… the shower. HOLY SHIT! I stepped back so fast I almost lost my balance and pulled the shower curtain off. It’s not a monster or a ghost. It is an actual girl standing in the shower, looking at me. She is fully dressed to have on jeans and a t-shirt. We both say nothing and I just stare back. Her straight long hair makes the freckles on her face standout under the make-up. The long eyelashes bounce up and down as she blinks her eyes and lifts both her arms out to me! Keeping with the lack of dialogue, neither one of speak a word and watch each other’s eyes. I know her, she is my unborn daughter. I just feel it!
Again, I’m just frozen. This time it is not fear, it’s shock. I don’t know what to do! Still does no words are spoken, but gave me the most kind and calm expression as it was piercing through my eyes. She never moves. I start to see the shower wall behind her becoming more transparent than her image. Finally, I turn around and run downstairs. Seven months pregnant, I leap down the hall and down the steps so I can grab the phone. I’m not done running, I make it outside. Standing in the front yard with the phone in my hands, I frantically look at all the windows.
Thank goodness my mom answers her phone at work. What else could I do, call 911? She said her spiel “This is Connie…” I believe that’s all she was able to get out before I started rambling. I am not even sure what I said. My heart was pounding louder than the sound of my voice! She tells me to sit on the curb to breathe and relax. She is on her way. Those 30 minutes went by sooo slow. Of course, when she arrives there is nothing to show her. I follow her as she retraces my steps leisurely and talking to herself. Instead of feeling silly, I am confident and she knows it. Her conclusions are that same as my own. I do not have to convince her of the image or truth that it was my daughter. That precise moment, I changed “My way of thinking” and did not give my child up for adoption. Never, ever did I or do I regret it! She is mine and will always be my baby girl. I love you eternally.
ACTUALLY PETRIFIED!
My youngest brother, Brian and his wife, Diane were living the dream. It was not long after the marriage that they found the perfect house to apply their saved up down payment. Both of them worked on their hands and knees to finish the handyman part of the sale. As we are known for, there were plenty of gatherings and barbecues for everyone to see the progress. Now there was ample amount of room in the backyard around the pond to sitting in the extra room made from the garage. They even made enough space for their new family dog.
With construction nearing its end, it was time for the adjustment of a hum drum typical work day. Busy mornings with getting herself ready for her own job and preparing her daughter for school. Brian almost on his own way out the door was gathering his keys for a full 12 hour shift. Not much time for goodbyes, Diane walks in the living room to lock the door behind him. No more than just a few seconds after, a series of knocks came banging on the front door. She quickly asks her daughter to get the front door assuming Brian had simply forgotten something and needing back inside. Her daughter opens the door but to only see him drive away and no one else. She called Brian to see if he had forgotten anything and to see if he had seen anybody approach the front door as he drove away. Surprisingly, Brian did not see nor hear anyone approach the door within that time frame. Neither of them really thought too much about that morning but to only start questioning after as it seemed to occur more often.
Within only a few weeks later, both had noticed that all the lights were always turned on and doors seemed to be left open in the house when they were away. Logically, they just assumed someone had entered their house and were robbed. Though, nothing was out of the familiar as all their possessions and valuables were still there. Months had passed and Diane had noticed some of her jewelry had gone missing. She had an act for leaving these items on the bathroom countertop for when she would get ready for work. Both Brian and Diane had looked around the house, in the bedrooms, under the bed and even in their daughter’s room. Unfortunately, a few weeks had already passed with no such luck. Oddly, when their search party had come to an end that the jewelry was seen back on the bathroom countertop. They quickly started to question themselves and wonder what the heck was going on. No answers were ever given nor a simple explanation.
Well, the remodeling of the house had begun once again. This time, the modifications had started in their daughter’s room as it was needed for an upgrade. The carpet, wood paneling and backboards had been removed all within the same day. Both Brian and Diane and moved all the their daughters furnishing to the middle of the room to allow for needed space to work. Now that there was added space, they could quickly get to that pesky lower molding. Brian and Diane were on opposite sides of the bedroom taking care of each baseboard from the walls. Rather than telling you her story, I will have it expressed it in her own words.
I was working on the base boards on one side of the room closest to where the door was and Brian was across the room doing the same thing. All of a sudden I felt something on my middle back area. The best way to describe it, that it felt like someone poked me with their finger. The feeling of pressing in my skin for only 2 seconds then it felt like they removed their finger. Of course I kinda jumped, it caught me off guard. I immediately thought the obvious, which would be Brian playing around with me, I thought he poked me. I was still kneeling on the floor as I turned around to say something to him when my heart sank as I saw that he was still across the room. He too was still kneeling down, facing the wall and working on base boards. I then started to become scared, my heart rate began racing. I stood up and said to Brian ” How did you do that? You poked me and got back over there so fast” as I said that to him I had a strange feeling come over me because I kinda knew it was next to impossible for him to have done it and get back in position across the room. I just wanted to believe he had just performed a miracle stunt!” lol. He then turned his head to look at me and said “What?” No. What are you talking about?” He seemed a little confused since I could clearly see he was way across the room and working hard on backboards. I stood there in shock as I nervously scanned the room, thinking over and over ..there has got to be an explanation. Unfortunately neither of us could not find one. At that moment my confusion turned to a frightening panic as I yelled out to Brian that we needed to get out of the room. Once we were out of the room I screamed at Brian frantically” I know something poked me, it sounds crazy but its true!” He eventually calmed me down and began looking at the middle of my back just to see if anything was there, but nothing. He could clearly see how badly shaken up I was. I then said to him that I believed whatever had touched me could more than likely do it again and my fear was that it might be worse than just a simple poke next time. We both agreed not to take any chances and we departed from the house.
Again, as we are known for, Brian dialed my Moms work number. She heard the desperation in his sentence and knew he needed her. My mom had a way with making us feel better but also had a “knack” for making the negative disappear. You know, kind of started with the ole’ boogey man in the closet to swoosh away. Every single time any of us had an unusual experience we always went to my mother for help or opinion on the matter.
They finally got relief from the intensity seeing her car approach their street. She stepped out of the car clutching a container of her usual Holy Water collected from her church. The whole event was recounted to add Diane’s point of view as one of the things my mom asked. The other was, for them both to stay outside and wait for her to come out. Sorry to say, no one knows what exactly happened while she was inside the house. They paced back and forth trying to catch a glimpse in a window, but were not so lucky. By then, 10 minutes had gone by and then another 20 minutes. She appeared in the front door 35 minutes later with the empty canister of Holy Water. “You can go in now”, was the only words she spoke on the subject. They witnessed her lips quiver along with the notion of being tired. My mom never elaborated anymore on this event, not even once! Diane and Brian did not have any more phenomena’s in that house. I wouldn’t quite say this is the closing to the story though. Encounters with peculiar activities still followed them both, just not in that house.
FREAKED OUT
In 2008, my youngest brother Brian was moving on after his divorce. He fell into a relationship that might be considered a “rebound” but as his character is, loved her with all his heart! Sometimes you need to look around you and notice the signs that might steer you in the right direction. My little footnote of encountering her must be said one way or another. I have learned to forgive and see the goodness in people, but sometimes their faults must be displayed at face value. The reasoning one comes up within their mind, is truly astonishing. Living and raising your children on deceit and child support, gives us women a bad name! Here is his story:
In this point of my life, I thought things were starting to enlighten and look brighter. But with every good day there are usually bad ones that follow. At this time I was with somebody, who I thought was special to me. As usual, there’s always a “but” in every relationship. Months and months were passing and we had many fallouts. I had a particular night where the famous quote comes to mind “when the shit hits the fan”. One evening we both just got so furious with each other and it got very ugly. Maybe ugly might be an understatement but none the less, I had to call the city police to assist me in this night’s brutal physical attack on me. She assaulted the officer who approached trying to speak with me. She was arrested and I was advised to not be in the house once she was released. Now, I have never been in a relationship like this where I was completely speechless and scared at the same time. So, as the officer had instructed, I left and tried to absorb everything that had just happened.
That night, I drove to my work and parked in the company lot to the back of the building to just have my time and calm down. I sat in my car with the windows rolled down and never even turned the radio on. About 20 minutes go by and I kept hearing some movement in the employee break area outside. I step out and assume it was either a co-worker or an animal. Now keep in mind it’s almost 3:00 am, so it could not have been an associate. So it had to be an animal. I called out but there was no answer and I just wanted to try to fall asleep in my car. I sat back down in the car and tried to go over what had just happened with my girlfriend and I. I was emotionally hurt but most of all thinking, “How am I going to go back to this life style”. Maybe it wasn’t that bad? As I contemplated, the noises seemed to continue and only got louder.
I finally look over to my right passenger side and see something just staring at me! Let me remind you that I had all my windows down and can see this “something” clear as day. It was a dark smoky grey facial figure that’s propped upon my door next to my mirror. To be a little more specific, it was transparent not solid. I can make out the eyes, nose and mouth socket. A rounded head but can’t make out any others such as hair, facial features or even expressions. It was just dark grey smoke with very little face formation. I examined it for maybe a period of five seconds and bolted out of there! Speeding onto the highway entrance and kept looking in my rear view mirror but saw nothing.
To say the least, I was really freaked out and scared as Hell! I drove around and eventually pulled into my friends driveway. After much-needed time to myself, I look back at that figure and just think “it” didn’t really do anything.” It never caused me harm of any nature. It almost felt as though I was being observed or watched. As though it picked up on my pain and absorbed it with me, as if it was just there for me. Now this is just me speaking out loud, but as many religions state about the after-life, a “heaven” or “spiritual world.” I’m almost in agreement with myself but I think I may have seen my own guardian angel. Catholics believe all of us have our own guardian angel that help and protect us. So, perhaps mine actually allowed me to see him/her. It was not too much as comforting me, but allowing itself to feel my hurt and aches. As though to live what I had just experienced and to know that it hurts as well with me. Another idea is perhaps it was my mom who had passed and is still there with me. Possibly also feeling everything I am feeling. She may have tried to show herself to me, but I can only see so much. Either of the two ideas are completely fine by me. Knowing my mom is with me and all of us as well as giving me the “sign” of… I’m not alone in any of my life’s demise or my Guardian angel showing me the same love and devotion. I just hope I’m not making them work overtime!
IRONY
The year was 1980 and I was nine years old. I was living in Universal City, Texas at that time. This is one of my first negative thoughts of being a military brat. I was always being the new student and it gave me a sense of seclusion. I was lucky to have met a girl named Renee at that time She always just seemed to accept and share the feeling of being reserved. Even with being a teenager and dealing with life’s distractions that intimidated us in other directions, we still made it through elementary and middle school together. We would ride on our “Big Wheels” and sneaker roller skates all day long. We proudly showed our ability to maneuver the tiny metal wheels and rubber brake around a corner. The continued practice was a must for me at the very least. Around the corner from my street was a house to avoid at all costs! Being shy and quiet appeared to attract the attention of what is called “Bullying”. I was in the spotlight of a boy who lived around that block. I wish I could say he was the neighborhood bully but seemed he only targeted me! Every time he saw me, he would provoke the loud shouts of extreme animosity. I was too skinny, wore ugly clothes and had buck teeth or whatever else came to his mind. Not remembering his name doesn’t hinder any impression with the memory of these events.
There we sat riding the same bus number 67 home from school. Knowing I was the first stop didn’t give me much time to look out the window. The engine barely started shifting and this angry boy got up to sit behind me. It definitely caught my attention because on a normal bases the school bus was a “safe zone”. Thump… thump! This thumping on my back seat made me spring forward. There was not any name calling or words at all! Just this thumping that went from behind my seat to move up the back of my head. I could hear everyone start to laugh because his response was to hit me harder and harder every time. Is it funny to see how much I can take? Is it funny to see someone hit another person? I ask because I don’t understand what makes others laugh at something like this. I tried real hard not to cry, “like a girl”. Well, being the scared cat that I was, had prevented me from turning around to face him. I just closed my eyes and let the fury build up inside.
I hate him! Why is it fair that a mean, spiteful boy gets to hit a girl, gets to hit me?
My heart began to pound as fast as the angry thoughts that came to my mind. I want to hit him too! As the bus approached the front of my house to let us off as usual, I could no longer stomach it. I’m gonna do it! I will hit him back this time. The bus made a complete stop and it appeared my rage helped me stand up out of my seat. Instead of following the other kids off the bus, I turned around to face him. Looking at his expression while my right arm lifted my backpack high enough to strike him square in the face! I did not hear any response because the pounding of my own feet dominated all noise. I ran as fast as I could off the bus! Leaping and landing on my front yard, I saw my door. Ignoring my legs to concentrate on my direction, I thought I was fast! Nope, I could feel myself being pulled backwards as I fell down to hit the grass. He must have run off the bus too!
I remember him laying (straddling) over me like in the movie, A Christmas Story. I could see his fingers in the air bunched up to form a fist before it blocked the sun over my face. Maybe, it was not over my face, because I could feel my cheeks and eyes start to burn real hot. He was punching me over and over again. It all burned so bad, I just closed my eyes so I could not see the blows coming in. I didn’t know what to do… so I screamed and cried “like a girl.” Next thing I know, I hear my brother, Bobby.
Hey! Stop! What are you doing!
As he ran over to us and pushing the boy hard enough for me stand up, I made a run for it! I headed to my front door again. I turned around before walking through the house and saw my six-year-old younger brother beating the crap out of this bigger boy! Even now, I have never felt so ashamed and proud at the same time. This day is the start of my brother’s immaculate bond we shared and its induction of strength.
As soon as my mom came home, she heard the whole story. I remember her looking at my face and the anger in her’s. She started shaking and mumbling to herself as she paced back and forth. Was she mad at me? I stood my ground and stormed off to my room. A couple of hours passed and she came up to talk with me. She voiced,
Something bad is going to happen to him. Just wait… He will get what he deserves!
I was just so so happy with her not being upset with me as her words went in one ear and out the other. A couple of days pass and the all was forgotten, so to speak. I was outside with my friend Renee peddling and racing my brothers “big wheel”. It was free for the taking, as long as he was asleep. Just passed the bushes of the stop sign, I could see a lot of people standing around in the street to form a circle. I yelled at Renee to follow as we ran toward the crowd. Just before I got there, the fire trucks wailed passed me. The neighbors began to spread out so I could peer in between the individuals and try to make out what they were gawking at. The “boy” was laying face up in the middle of the street not moving. No one seemed to even lift him up but they all just stood around and stared. From all the talk, I could understand he was apparently hit by a car which sped off. I was too nervous and excited to stick around to watch the ambulance pull out their stretcher.
I dashed home to tell me mom what I saw and what happened. I am not proud but as the story came out my mouth, I was just enthusiastic! He was so very cruel to me and it seemed to make me feel good. I could tell I had my moms full attention. Her face slumped when I explained it was the same boy who had hit me. She turned around and started pacing in circles like before. This time, I could make out the mumbling. It doesn’t take long but she notices I am all ears. She strokes both my shoulders and said,
Why? Why did I let my anger get the best of me? Linda, never put your anger towards someone. Learn your strength and abilities.
What did she mean by that? Gratefully the boy was alright and back in his home the next day. Want to hear something ironic? Never, did he antagonize or bother looking my way again! Just having a concussion must have knocked something good in him… ha ha.
A Different Apparition
Again in my room, I can’t seem to fall asleep. This time, I do not know where the noise is coming from. Is it in my room or perhaps, is it in the hall? Hiding my face under the covers does not ever make it go away! I lifted my head from the comfort of deep inside my pillow to realize the noise is just outside my room. The sound was like counting thunder on a stormy night as it was getting closer and closer. Should I make a run for it and speed to my parents room again? I decided to leave my slippers and jump as far as I could. When I got to the doorway, my dad was already standing there. His head turned left as he fixated in a stare down the hall. I stood there for a second, watching him and waiting to see him react. Eventually, I also peered over to the right. It was “him”! My friend from the Ouija board! I can’t explain how I knew, I just understood it to be. My Mom and I experimented with a Ouija Board that we bought. Silly, I know, we just assumed it was for play. That is; until we started a dialogue with something that gave itself a description! He Turned around and gesturing us to follow.
Well, because this apparition is etched in my memory and my communication with him, I will recite the following exactly as I saw it. “He” was wearing worn out denim pant overalls with the bottoms rolled up. It was similar to the book I read, “Huckleberry Finn”. The left shoulder strap hung over his shoulder to sway as he moved forward. His shirt was short-sleeved in a faded green color. As I approached closer, I noticed his hair was so greasy and straight that it definitely looked black. My dad followed him slowly in front of me. Neither one of us looking nor speaking to each other. We made our way down the narrow hallway through to the very dim living room. Even as the light in each area changed, his lit presence did not. We veered right through the entry to the dining room. Keeping at the same slow pace, making another right turn to the door that descends into the basement. Normally this door stayed closed or otherwise it would block the way to the dining room. On this night, it seemed to be open for us. We followed along with him down the stairs, until he disappeared! POOF… right in front of us! My dad finally, slowly turned his head and glanced at me with an uncertain blank expression. In spite of everything, we both had nothing to say. We both robotically just turned and went back to bed.
It was not until thirty years later till both of us finally talked about it. When collaborating with him to write this story on February 4, 2013, he depicted a contrast in one thing. When my dad was staring and following “my friend” on that night our visions were not the same. Instead of seeing an actual man in such detail as I described, he was ensuing a green figure of light. He saw an “electric like” green glow of a head and shoulder silhouette moving away from him. I asked again, “if you didn’t see a Ghost gesture at you, Why did you follow it?” He replied: “It was the strangest thing I ever saw and wanted to find out where it was going?”
Stranger behind the camera
Lori McGhee – Grove City, Ohio
“My 3-year-old son was trying to take a picture of me. He didn’t realize the camera was backward. He took several photos within seconds of each other. I grabbed the camera back when he was done and started erasing the photos to make space. The first two images were blurry duds. But when I got to the third picture, there was a startling face behind his. I’ve never seen this person in my life and we were the only two home.”
Who is that in the pantry?
Stephanie Ater – Fayette County, Ohio
“I was in my kitchen with one of my kids. While she was eating, I took a picture of her and posted it on Facebook. That’s when people started asking me, “Who is the man in the background?” Her and I were the only two in the home. I looked at the picture again and you can see an older man looking around the corner of the pantry. Our house was built-in 1877.”
Mandela Effect
… work in progress and more to Come …