Well, allow me to begin with: I have mentioned this a long time ago but it was when I had, like, 5 followers or something so I will start at the beginning.
I don't know if I believe in ghosts. I can't say that I DON'T but I can't say that I do either. It seems possible in some ways and in others, I'm a skeptic through and through. But none of that changes the fact that even my cats think something is up with this corner of my bedroom.
So when we moved into this house this year I started noticing weird things on my side of the bed. The hubs will go to sleep with a live band in the room, nothing phases him. But I have to get comfy, relax, and drift off which takes time. In the beginning I had one of those touch lamps that had the 3 light settings. Dim, Dimish, Not-as-Dim.
So one night, I'm drifting and he's zonked out as usual. Then I hear something. It's like a thud on the wall by me, next to the big window. To this day, I still donno what it was or wasn't but I woke Shane up to ask if he heard that, because that's what made sense. He's sleeping, so of course I would need to ask if he heard something. I really do realize the sense that makes...He didn't hear a thing, naturally.
When I wake up in the morning the lamp is on the second setting. Now, I very well could have touched it in the night. I have no idea if I did or didn't at that point.
The next time something weird happens I have been asleep for a long while and Shane grumbles to me to turn off my light. Which I know I did before I went to sleep and so I groggily grouch at him to bite me and reach over to turn it off. Then, gosh, minutes or hours(no idea as I am asleep) I see the light flick on. Not the first setting. Not the second. But the third and then the room goes dark again. Then it does it again, going through the whole sequence of settings again and again.
By this time I'm truly awake and sort of frozen. Childhood fears of things under the bed have flashed back and I'm sure the second I reach over to touch the light something is going to grab me and suck me under (the Whinnie the Pooh episode where they went under the bed was TRAUMATIZING to me as a kid... it was, indeed, the cause of the recurring fever nightmare I always had when I was sick. SO SCARY.) and Shane will just sleep through it all and no one will ever know what happened to me. (I'm really not at all rational at night when something weird is going on)
SO I wake Shane up, just so there will be another witness...or victim, to whatever happens next. And all this time the light is still running through the sequences on its own. Shane looks, says "huh"(he's very helpful) and "just unplug it. It might be a short in the wall. Ill check it out tomorrow" FINE. He has successfully burst my paranormal bubble. I unplug it, and we go back to bed. Him immediately. Me, I take some time to calm back down.
He never checks the outlet. Days go by and I want to read while he's sleeping, so I plug the damn lamp into another wall and read. Then the light goes out. And I wait. and wait. and wait. for it to come back on and start doing its sequential thingy on its own. But this irritating thing just sits. So, I gather my nerve and reach over to turn it back on.
All is fine. I go to bed and wake up in the morning with the light on. To which the whole corner of the room gets one of those "really?!" looks from me.
In the morning I wake up and my cord yanking was actually a cord ripping and flinging the light across the room. So. It's broken. Ha! I say to ghost or gouly. Suck on that. Then realize that I just jeered a ghost...or my imagination for me breaking my own lamp...smart.
Now. Let me say this, ghost or not, I have no idea. BUT I have NEVER EVER EVER come home from work and the light been just...on. I have never gone on errands and come home to the light on. Never been doing laundry and the light start running though the settings. I have never been watching tv and gone to the bathroom to find that lamp on. Never. Didn't do it unless it's been night and we have been in bed.
So I replace it with a real clicky lamp from the living room. The kind with the clicky nob you have to turn. (This was...a month ago or less) And nothing. No weird sounds. Nothing turning that light on. Just a bedroom for weeks! Until last week.
We have our 5 cats that I have mentioned before. A few like to sleep in the bed but mostly always leave at some point in the night and sleep elsewhere. Sometimes, one or two come back in the morning to snuggle with me but not always. Their finicky.
One of our little girls, Dark Girl(Hubs calls her) or Lily, only comes to get pets before I fall asleep then she scampers off to wherever. But last week, she did her routine, got scratches and pets and jumped down. I reach over to get my contact case and she's sitting on the floor beside the table. STARING at the wall beside the window. Just...sitting and staring. Not moving a muscle. I reach down to pet her and talk to her and she flinches then a few seconds pass before she looks up at me. Then looks back to that same spot. I watch her for a minute or two and then she just gets up and walks out. Like nothing.
Now, the hubs is convinced the light had a short. It was a hand-me-down from a friend who didn't need it anymore. Likely. If I had mentioned the cat, he would have just said she's a cat and cats do weird things for no reason. Also likely.
But...is that all it is, really? Cause I get the willies sometimes over there but it could just be because of my experience and imagination.
What do you think? Do you believe in spirits that linger? Why wouldn't a lingering soul have anything better to do than screw with a lamp and bug my cats?
HERE is an AMAZING post by author Hannah Moskowitz on Things Not To Worry About in the publishing world. Loved it.
I am with you, I'm not sure believe, but I don't NOT believe either, you know, I keep an open mind and just hope that they know I come in piece (crap, now it sounds like I believe in Aliens.)
ReplyDeleteLove the HP pictures as usual! PS could you send me the widget code again?! I lost it and I'm really depressed (ok not really) but I really want us to match! PURTY PLEASE!
I use to have a touch lamp with weird turnings-on in the night or at random times when no one was around! Spooky!
ReplyDeleteV spooky. I'll check that link as well. I'm a new follower. Cool blog and I'll be back. Feel free to pop over to my blog and maybe click on "follow" when you get a minute. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to say it was just a problem with the light ... and I believe in ghosts.
ReplyDeleteThe cat throws me off though cause I think they can see things we can't (dogs as well).
I'm not sure I guess. But as for shouldn't a ghost have something better to do that fiddle with a light ... maybe he/she's already done the more exciting haunting things and wants to go back to the basics. Kinda like the saying "an oldie, but a goodie."
Good luck though!
Loved this story! It would definitely creep me out...but like you, my husband would think I'm crazy! You'll have to keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteI believe in Angels and Demons that are the cause of all things spiritual. Thanks for stopping by Alex's blog today. I encourage you to stop by tomorrows blog with Arlee Bird (there is a link at the end of Alex's blog). We'll be discussing this very issue and if there may be a link to science.
ReplyDeleteI love this - creepy is riveting, isn't it?! I don't know...I DO believe in ghosts and I DO believe animals sense things we don't. If your switch light starts wigging out, I'm sold! :-0
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in ghosts but yeah, that would totally creep me out!
ReplyDeleteGoing to check out that other post, thanks!
Oh my Lord. That would totally freak me out. I'm not sure about what's out there, for I do think there are freaky things sometimes with no logical explanation. Wow, I have chills now!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah that's creepy. Things like that always make my imagination run wild (that's why we're writers, right?). I would have totally thought it was a ghost too. I think there could be the possiblity of ghosts, just like there is the possiblity of aliens. I'm totally open- like I would be fine either way, you know? I was totally into John Edwards (the medium guy, not the politician) when he was on the Sci Fi channel- how you could not believe him? Some of the stuff he said was down right creepy. Anyway, so I'm always open to stuff like that- as long as it can't be proven on way or another, why not?
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a cat that would stare at one door and only in the winter. Never figured out why.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in ghosts (including the Holy Ghost), but little boy has a monster under his bed. It's making some weird sounds in the dark, bt except from that it's a kind and friendly monster >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
Real odd. Maybe google will find you some information, lol.
ReplyDeleteooooh....creapy fun. yikes. best of luck with it.
ReplyDeleteI used to have one of those kinds of lamps and it would cut on for no apparent reason sometimes. So I'm not sure about that, but the cat...that's another story! I'm convinced they can see things we can't!
ReplyDelete...a short was naturally my first thought, but...
ReplyDelete...camped out along the edge of a pond once with a friend, saw something(s) in the middle of the night, who my friend also saw, and watched for a considerable amount of time. I'll never forget that evening, and never shrug off a bump in the night as being nothing more than a bump in the night. What I saw is going into a book I'm working on. I'm still thinking what you're experiencing is a short, but don't rule out anything, and yes, keep an eye on how your cats react to that area of your house. Good luck:)
I believe only because I did have a very real experience. It was a good experience but extremely real....creepy none the less just because of the supernatural element. I'd be switching sides of the bed with hubby for sure...since he's so brave and all. ;)lol
ReplyDeleteOkie, thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteMorgan, I would love to hear about your experience!! I'm really interested now! And I make him sleep on the side closest to the door in case of zombie attacks. I mean...intruders...
Oh spooky!
ReplyDeleteAye.. okay.. I got chills reading this.. I think I do believe in ghosts.. I've had some very freaky things happen in the past too.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, loved that article! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAs to the light - had a touch lamp and had to get rid of it for that exact reason. Creeped me out the way it would turn on and off on its own. But the cat thing? I think they can see things we can't.
Creepy? Oh, I've got creep-o-rama, sistah! Our one eyed cat, Pip, is a real talker. You can have a full on conversation with her. "How was your day?" MEOW. "Really, what did you do today?" MEOW MEOW MEOW and so on. She used to TALK to one of the walls in our old apartment. Conversations like the ones she has with us with a wall. I just thought it was a cute quirk until my husband kept insisting she was talking to spirits. Since we moved into the new house - no talking to walls anymore. We've been here for three years. Then, I was back visiting at our old building and the manager happened to mention the odd stuff the new girl's cat was doing. Then he confesses to me that the guy who lived there before before we did died from obesity related causes and he was a total cat lover (had three when he died). I got the chills typing that again.
So watch out for more cat behavior. That's the real way to tell!!
I'm a pretty skeptical person, but the light and the cats would have totally creeped me out too!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I will tell my story. When I was little, I was very close to my grandfather. He lived about an hour away out in the country but we went there often. He always told us funny rhymes and spent lots of time with us. He'd take me to collect the squid he used for fertilizer and bring us to feed the horses that all walked around wild there at the time. Sadly, he died suddenly when I was just eleven. It broke my heart and I always missed him. One night, years later, when I was pregnant, I lay wide awake in bed, as was usual for me often during the pregnancy, due to being so uncomfortable etc. I lay there in the dark thinking about my childhood and about all the times spent out at my grandfather's, and all the wonderful times we shared. I kinda got emotional and in my mind I thought of him and thought the words, I love you gramp. Instantly, and I mean instantly, the whole room lit up brightly for a moment and in that moment, I CLEARLY heard my grandfather say I love you too. His voice wasn't out loud but rather I heard it in my head. It was so loving and sweet. It freaked me out of course but it was also a warm feeling. No, I'm not crazy, and I've never had anything happen like that before or since. I don't hear voices and am very normal. However, there is no rational explanation for what happened other than what I said. I know it was real. So there it is. My ghost story....
ReplyDeleteAWE! That is the sweetest ghost story I have ever heard!! I'm really glad that happened, and he did that or whatever. awe..thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the story! I am not one for believing in spooks but I love a good ghost story. I am in the camp that the light had a short, but you might want to test the outlet too. A short in the outlet itself could cause a fire. As far as the cat staring at the wall, with the seasons change it could be hearing the temperature changes causing the wall to expand or contract particularly since it is near a window. I am a firm believer in the power of the mind. As an IT guy I often have to work after hours and overnight. I have heard ghost stories about a few of the places that I work, and so now whenever I see a reflection in my glasses I jump. And when the overnight janitor came in one day I nearly wet myself.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that sounds WAY too creepy!!! And I'm writing a ghost story, LOL
ReplyDeleteRach
I'm a skeptic, but that still gave me a shiver!
ReplyDeleteMost times I lean towards believing, but I'm like you - I can't say either way for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy parents now live in my grandparent's house. My grandpa used to see people in the house all the time, but we alsways just blamed it on his meds. But now, my mom swears that she's seen people out of the corner of her eye sometimes. I lived with them for about a year in this house, and I never saw anything, but I would get the feeling sometimes that someone was watching me. And, that story about your cat is so weird, because I had something really similar happen with my parent's dog. I was home alone, and the dog and I were playing, and he'd run out of my room and run back in to "attack." Well, one time he didn't come back in, so I walked out of my room to see what he was doing, and he was just standing at the entrance to the living room like a statue. I called his name, and nothing. He didn't even twitch. I actually had to go pick him up and take him back into my room because he wouldn't move. Creeped me out so bad.
So I certainly understand!
(P.S. I have something for you at my blog today!)
The Case of the Lamp Monster. Sounds like an Encyclopedia Brown Case File. Honestly, I think I do believe in the spirit world. There are just too many unexplained things in this world not to mean something. BTW...am I the only weirded by the fact that HP and Ron have facial hair?
ReplyDelete*shivers* I totally LOVE to be creeped out like that. I know. Strange. I am like you... sort of... I don't NOT believe, but am not really willing to commit. Though... we had a neighbor in Portland who said there was this woman who hung around my husband. She could see her. When she described her, my hushand (a total skeptic) say, "that's weird. Sounds like my mom." (his mom died when he and I were first dating) So I guess I believe in a lingering spirits thing... I'm NOT as sure about an 'able to influence stuff'... still... you have a pretty good story there--I have one of those touchable lamps and I DO sometimes tap it in my sleep without knowing, but the cycling... and only doing it when in bed...
ReplyDeleteYikes! Creepy! You could have a short in the wall that is messing with your room but I don't know. It sounds sketchy. :)
ReplyDeleteAvoid that corner when you have strong negative emotions. That tends to bring them out.
ReplyDeleteThough I believe, I usually try to narrow down possible reasons until there's nothing left but the inexplicable. Touch lamps are tricky, because they do often turn themselves on and off at the slightest breath or gust of wind. What throws me is the cat. Like Quinn, I've heard that they can see things we can't.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. Keep us updated.
Yikes! I totally believe in ghosts and this gave me the creeps!
ReplyDeleteI too think cats can see things we can't.
Scary! I do believe in ghosts (though I wish I didn't). I knew somebody whose daughter died when she was 8 and one of her battery operated kids toys used to come on my itself. So he took the batteries out. But it kept turning on and off by itself. However, in your case I could see it totally being a short. I have cats too, and you never know what makes them do anything. They can hear way better than us, or maybe it was a cat fantasy of catching a bird or something.
ReplyDeleteVery creepy story. We have a touch lamp that comes on when we turn on the extractor fan as the electricity trips it somehow. Oh and you can turn them on with a banana. :O)
ReplyDelete