Thriller Thursday: Vol 1

Okay, in a brilliant burst of creativity I decided to totally copy the format of my local radio morning show.  I know!!  Why didn't I think of this sooner!!  Anyway, during the month of October I'll be hosting "Thriller Thursday", and you're welcome to play along in the comments or over at your site.  Just let me know if you've got a story to share and I'll link to you at the bottom of my post each Thursday!  This could either be super fun or go over like a flip flop store in the South Pole--we'll see!

I've always believed in "supernatural elements", ghosts, possessions, spirits, psychics--whatever you want to call it.  I've only had a few run-ins during my lifetime, but I think my level of sensitivity, or sixth sense if that's what you want to call it, just isn't very attuned to that world.  Even without having many experiences of my own I hear all of these stories of ghostly encounters, see my dogs bark at nothing, watch children playing contentedly with "imaginary friends", and it's too hard to believe that we're completely alone in this world.  And I have had enough bizarre encounters to solidify my belief that there's more out there than meets the eye.  Over the next few weeks I'll share those stories with you, and you can either dismiss them as a fanciful imagination or bizarre coincidences, or you can believe that sometimes things just aren't explainable in this world.

During the spring of last year a very difficult period in my family began.  My grandmother had been sick for many years, and just in the past few years her health had deteriorated to the point that she truly was just a shell of her former self.  Finally, shortly after I had been home for a visit to say my goodbyes, she passed away quietly in the hospital.  I went back home for the funeral, but had to return to work shortly after.  Just a few months passed during which my grandfather's health began to fail rapidly, and we knew that it was only a matter of time.

It was a difficult time for all of us, and a particularly lonely time for me as I was far from family and unable to make the trip to the Northeast to see my grandfather one last time.  I felt guilty, sad, and alone waiting for the inevitable phone call.  After a long week at work I spent the weekend at home and went to sleep hoping that some rest would help shake the depression that I had felt creeping over me.  It's rare that I have vivid dreams that I actually remember the next day, but that night I had a dream that I will never forget.

I was sitting in the same pew at my old church where my grandmother's funeral had been held, I didn't know who had died, but in my dream I was crying uncontrollably.  I looked to my left and saw various family members, also crying, and when I looked to my right my grandmother was sitting between me and my sister, staring straight ahead and patting my leg consolingly.  I was confused because I knew that I had already been to her funeral, so I asked my sister to look and see if she could see anyone sitting between us.  She just looked at me strangely and said no, she was sitting next to me, not anyone else.  I tried to talk to my grandmother, but she continued staring straight ahead, not saying a word, but somehow inside my head I could hear someone saying "It'll be okay, you'll be fine".

I woke up to the sound of my cellphone ringing, and when I answered my mother was on the other end, obviously distressed.  She told me that she had sad news, that my grandfather had passed away and she would be going to his funeral the next week.  Logically, I realize that I had been distressed about my grandmother's passing and that we all knew my grandfather didn't have long, but in my heart I feel certain that she came to me because she knew that I would need family with me during that time.  I've never dreamed about her or any other grandparents since then, and I'd never dreamed about her before, so the fact that she came to me right when I needed someone to console me seems to be far too much of a coincidence to dismiss.

Now it's your turn!  Just leave a comment or a link, and try your best to scare the pants off of me--I'm a sucker for a good ghost story.  And stay tuned for more Thriller Thursday stories, the next one is a real doozy!

Comments

[Brittany]

oi vey

[shani]

Hey, I recognize that quote at the top of your page:)

and yes, last spring was a bad season for elderly grandparents.

[RisibleGirl]

Shhhh, don't tell anyone that I'm blog hoppin. I think the idea of a three day weekend to catch up on work is allowing me to procrastinate today. sheesh.

OK, I have a good one for you. I haven't posted this on my blog, nor will I because I think people might think I"m a loon. You know I'm a loon and we're still friends so....

I *am* very sensitive to that sort of thing. I have lots of stories, but this one is particularly eerie.

Last year, as BJ's dad was at the end of his life, I started feeling someone get out of the bed and then I'd see a shadow walk across the room. It happened almost nightly at about four in the morning.

I didn't always feel the 'someone' get out of the bed, and I didn't always see the shadow. Sometimes I'd see one and not the other, and sometimes I'd see both.

The first time it happened, I thought it was BJ getting out of bed to use the bathroom, but then he'd snore (ha!) and I'd realize that it wasn't him at all. I chalked it up to being a dream, the first time.

The next time it happened, I put my hand over to BJ's side of the bed and felt him there, as I watched the shadow walk by. OK, that freaked me out.

Eventually, I got the distinct feeling that someone was sleeping in our bed between the two of us. It didn't freak me out after a while. Instead, I was very curious as to who it was.

Then the lighbulb came on and I got chills~ you know the kind you get when you *know* you're right about something?

BJ had a brother that died when BJ was about 8. His brother was 18 months older than him and was in a nursing home the last 6 years of his life. Loooooooonnnnng story.

After analyzing this (a lot!)I believe that this was BJ's brother and he was next to BJ during the night to comfort him during this difficult time he was having due to his father being in the active stages of dying. BJ's dad was his best friend and this was very hard on him.

I think he always left in the early hours, so he'd be gone by the time BJ woke up.

He stopped 'visiting' about two weeks after BJ's dad died.

I told BJ about this, even though I know that BJ doesn't believe in life after death. BJ said, well, I don't believe in this sort of thing, but if you are right~ if it's true, it is comforting to know that my brother was here trying to make me feel better.

I have lots of stories like this (well, not exactly like this, but of 'visits') It's very clear what is happening and I'm wide awake when it happens.

I've learned to not be freaked out about it and just accept that I'm more sensitive than most.

Or more of a nut. tee hee.

[wordnerd]

Wow, both yours and RG's stories are amazing -- interestingly, they don't scare me but rather give me comfort. I have a couple of stories, but I'm not quite ready to tell them. But I love the idea of posting them to a forum such as this. Maybe by next "Thriller Thursday" I'll have 'em together. They may be too long for the comments section; if I decide to post them at my page, I'll send you a linky loo.

[Becky]

I have had several dreams with people that have passed away that have "talked" directly to me in my dream. There is not a doubt in my mind that was their way of visiting me b/c each time, I woke up with a sense of peace that I can never accurately describe to anyone else. Many people knew about this, and the night that my step-dad passed away, he came to me in a dream to tell me that he was okay and to let everyone else know that. I've since heard of other people that have has a similar experience. He also came to me a few months ago and said that he was worried about my mom and that the four kids really needed to keep an eye on her. A month later, her house burned down.