The festival I just conducted took place in a town about 20 minutes from where I grew up. I played many basketball/soccer/softball games and traveled through there on my way to just about anywhere. So I'm pretty familiar with the town. Which means that when I found out where I was staying over night, I had a slight panic attack. The old mansion is haunted and has been for years. Actually, there was a very damaging fire in 1994. I remember this fire, because it was in the middle of winter, and when you passed the mansion it was so creepy because of all the icicles hanging from the burned structure. I guess the ghost has not been seen or heard from since that fire. But, there is no official explanation for the fire, and it's suspected that the ghost was a fire poltergeist - meaning IT started the fire. Creepy, right? Well, it is for me, as I not only truly believe in ghosts, but I truly believe at some point I will see one. This is just a feeling I've always had. I've, at times, 'felt' a certain presence as well.
Anyway, Cathy and I drive up to the mansion in complete darkness in the pouring rain. There are no outside lights out and no signs indicating where we should enter. Finally a man greets us. And he's weird. Very weird. I was so uncomfortable in his presence that I really didn't want to stay there...even if the ghost stories were false. He showed us around the house and we passed right through the front parlor - where the ghost hung out and started the fire. Then he showed us our rooms upstairs...one of the rooms was right above the parlor. Cathy didn't know this...so I told her to take that room!!! Our rooms were adjoining, so I made sure to leave the door that connected our rooms open. It was a horrible, horrible night. It was rainy and windy and the host had the place so freakin' hot and left us with very specific instructions that it's "best to leave the temperature as it is". Whatever that means (my theories on that shortly...). During the night, I heard every creak of the house...and I swear to God, I heard feet shuffling. Only we were the only ones in the mansion - the owner stayed in a separate part of the house. Cathy heard noises in her closet. For realz. I slept awful - but more from the heat than from the noises. But then I started thinking...why is it best to keep the heat so high? Could it be because of the fire poltergeist? No joke, that's what kept going through my mind. All night. Does the heat keep the poltergeist at bay? Is it so hot BECAUSE of the poltergeist?
Seriously, I know I have an active imagination, but I really do believe in spirits, so while many will laugh this off, it was an awful night. I'm not sure I have ever been so genuinely afraid.
So with about 3 hours of sleep, I had to conduct a festival for 9 hours and then drive 2+ hours home. Zzzzzzz....
Just another adventure in the world of Nancois.
GAH! That sounds terrifying! I wouldn't have been able to sleep at all! I completely believe in spirits or ghosts or whatever. In fact, we turned down an apartment here because all the time we were looking at it, I had the most intense worst feeling -- goosebumps, the hair on the back of my neck standing up, and just an overwhelming feeling of "GET OUT OF HERE!" It was a gorgeous apartment, really light and airy and with beautiful views, but I couldn't stop shaking even after we'd left -- so, we didn't get it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it out of there safe!