Things to Do:
Are There Haunted Spirits in Yo When confronted by something you don’t understand, do you accept it or do you dwell on it until you can rationalize what is really happening? Most people enjoy a good magic show. However, if they know how the illusion is done, it tends to spoil the effect. The same can be said of haunted houses. Yes, I’m referring to the Halloween pop-up businesses which provide a spooky atmosphere where you can be startled, surprised and scared by lots of very creative props. Instead of spending time discussing something manmade, let’s talk about a real honest-to-goodness house, inhabited by the spirit of someone who is no longer living. Do you believe houses can really be haunted? Have you ever lived in one? Have you ever been in one? My next question: how would you know? If someone else sees these elusive images, and you don’t, how can you be sure they exist? Along about now is when the skeptics move on to another subject. Others who have never seen or heard anything unusual continue to read simply for the entertainment factor. But true believers gather among friends to discuss what -8- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
new sightings they have experienced. Some even form ghost hunter clubs. In the past, I would have been among the first group mentioned. In recent years though, I’ve had some in-depth conversations with people I know and trust. The subject: the ghosts which inhabit their homes. This leads us to the obvious question: how can you live there, knowing of their existence, without being scared, or at least nervous? It’s simple really. Among all the people I interviewed, they assured me this being has done them no harm. In some cases, they have prevented injuries. In one case, a locked door was heard unlocking just in time to allow rescue workers to enter. Another person explained how an unknown voice kept calling her name until she went looking for the whoever was trying to get her attention. In the process, she found and extinguished a fire before it became large enough to trap her in the basement where she had been working. Several sources believe there are spirits who only reveal themselves to children. Perhaps this is due to the trusting
nature of young people. Or perhaps it is their guardian angels. These stories sound very similar to one in my family history. After a long hard day in the early 1900’s working on the farm with no utilities, Ida was trying to finish getting her garden planted before the approaching storm arrived. It was hot, humid, and she was totally exhausted.
