Ghost Hunting, Part 1

By Special Guest Blogger and TLC Regular, Cyndi D'Alba

A BIG Thank You to The Tarts for having me back as a guest blogger. This is a special community and I feel privileged to be a part of it. My blogs today and tomorrow are about my recent trip into the paranormal world of ghosts. Be aware that the names of the individuals involved and the ghost hunter organization have been changed...mostly to protect me! To “sweeten” the pot for the backbloggers, I have books to give away! No, not mine (a little hard to do when I don’t have one!) Maureen Child stepped in to give me a hand with that problem. In keeping with the paranormal genre, she has graciously provided me with copies of two books from her Demon Buster Series...A Fiend in Need and More than Fiends. Hopefully she’ll stop by while I’m here, so a GREAT BIG THANK YOU shout out to Maureen for the books and to The Tarts for leaving town and loaning me the blog!

Do you believe in ghosts? I do, and I don’t. Great answer, huh? Earlier this summer, my local RWA chapter went on a “ghost hunt” here in Hot Springs, Arkansas. (The gals with Diamond State Romance Authors really rock!) Honestly, looking back, I’m not sure what was more interesting, the ghosts we hunted or the “semi-professional” ghost hunters leading the chase. I suspect any contacts between these hunters and ghostly spirits are because the spirits feel sorry for the bungling ghost hunters. Picture Inspector Clouseau in the ghost hunting business.

Friday afternoon opened with a presentation by the association we’ll call “Arkansas Researchers for Ghost Hunting”, known privately to me as “ARGH”. It didn’t go exactly as planned. They were an hour late, the equipment for showing pictures on a disk didn’t work (we blamed the haunted hotel), and one of the women retired to her hotel room because she was not feeling well. (However, she was dancing in the bar later that night. Hmmm) After trying everything to get the DVD player running, we finally put the disk into a computer and brought the pictures up on its screen. Unfortunately, there were too many of us to allow everyone to view the small screen, so we had to pass the computer from person to person every time the picture changed. After all that effort, you’re probably thinking there were some really cool ghostly orbs or something on those pictures—but if so, you’d be dead wrong. They were pictures of Hot Springs from the early 1900’s. But they were pretty cool photos!

The first two speakers, whom we’ll call Erica and Janice, told us about the haunted places they’d visited, but had no cool example stories or pictures to offer. Neither had ever seen a spirit. Erica thinks she had a picture of one in the window of an abandoned building once, but frankly, with a little imagination, I can see ghostly patterns in the water drops on my shower wall.

I guess the strangest story Erica told was about a building here in Arkansas where the room changes...meaning you’re standing there, surrounded by green walls and a picture of a waterfall, and then suddenly, the walls are blue and there are gas lamps adorning them. She believes it’s a portal to another dimension. I couldn’t say for sure, and she wouldn’t reveal the location so we could check out the story. Not sure I would have gone even if I knew it! With my luck, the room would change and I’d find myself sharing it with Al Capone, who was not known for his sense of humor.

That evening, the ARGH researchers were to lead us on a ghost hunt in a local cemetery. Unfortunately, when the meeting was arranged, Erica didn’t realize she had play practice that night and had to go to the theater. Seems she writes murder mystery plays on the side and was staging a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. She’s sure there’s money to be made in that venue. One of my chapter mates (a former actress from LA) got quite a chuckle out of that idea.

Being that Hot Springs is my hometown, I led the group to an old (1800’s) cemetery that all the high school kids say is haunted. I figure the high school boys have decided this is a great place to take a date to make-out. You know, get the girl scared so she’ll sit close and cling to him.

So, at 9 p.m., off we went toting bug spray, flashlights, and digital cameras. Before we could do a “proper” hunt, we stood in a circle, held hands, and begged the spirits to show themselves, swearing we were there for research and not to cause harm. OF COURSE we weren’t nervous after that jewel of a lead-in.

Most of us started out wandering around together. Nothing is paved, the road and paths are rocky, so it took a little while for various individuals to venture off alone. There were lots of digital flashes going off. I personally tried to find a grave that looked haunted. I have no idea what that would look like, so I started with one that had collapsed. See the two round, white orbs above the stone? [Ed. Note - click on the picture - there are two of them there, no kidding!]

The next picture taken immediately after that. No orbs! Spirits, right? I don’t know. It may have been just dust in the air, although there really wasn’t any dust floating that I could tell and there wasn’t a breeze to be had.

That’s pretty much how all my pictures look. According to internet sites (which all seem to know more than I do about this subject), a “true” spirit orb looks like this.. So did I see a true spirit orb? Your guess is as good as mine.

The best story however is told by Delilah Devlin and Elle James. They were looking at headstones using the beam of a single flashlight. The name on one headstone was “GHOST”. The two sisters sort of laughed and said, “Isn’t that an odd last name?” Then Elle moved her light to the next headstone in the family section which read “ROBERTSON”. She flipped back to the other headstone which now read “ROBERTSON” and not “GHOST”. Scared the heck out of both of them! Delilah and Elle swear by their story. I wasn’t there, but I can tell you both of them were more than a little spooked and ready to get out of there!

Come back tomorrow when we move back to The Velda Rose Hotel for more ghostly fun in part two. In the meantime, visit my other blog sites: Cynderella's Castle or The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers.

I’ll select a winner from today’s comments to receive one of Maureen Child’s Demon Buster books.

Comments

[William Simon]

Welcome, Cyndi, and thank you for a really fascinating blog!

Like you, I do believe and I don't. I want to believe (apologies to Mulder and Scully), but show me something concrete, something that cannot be explained. We've all had what I classify under "Weird Shit" happen, but I want to see some actual proof that cannot be argued with.

In the meantime....:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4uxIo4t7xM

[Keri Ford]

geez, I still don't know how ya'll walked through through in the dark!

Keri-fellow scardy-cat Diamond member

[Keri Ford]

Oops! that should have been through THERE. See, so freaked over the idea I can't even type straight!

[Harley]

I do believe in ghosts, I do believe in ghosts. I'd be an idiot not to, being in New Orleans at the moment.

Welcome, Cyndi!

[Laura (in PA)]

Wow, William - I don't think I've ever seen that video! Love all the cameo appearances.

Cyndi, great blog. I believe in ghosts. Too bad your ghost hunters weren't a little more organized. Maybe you should take up the job yourself. :)

[Sandi Sookoo]

The city of Indianapolis has ghost walks and I'm itching to do one this fall through the historic district; however, I can't generate interest among my friends.

I'll be the first to admit I'm a skeptic, but in the last year my writing has taken a turn into the paranormal. So, not having a clue I needed to do some research. I have to say that some of the "evidence" is convincing, especially if I'm tired. In any event, I think the paranormal is like everything else: it's subjective. Some of the pictures I've seen are like a "magic eye" picture and I'm asking "what am I supposed to be seeing?"

The best thing about the paranormal world? It's anyone's guess if this stuff really exists so therefore writing in it is almost like free style. Do you believe?

Who knows, but I can sure write a nice ghost story...

[Shayla]

Hiya, Cyn! Too funny! I love the snarkiness. Of course, the ARGH group was very disorganized and, well, shall we say ditzy? I know they were supposed to go to the cemetary with us but I guess the call of the ghosts in the bar were more interesting. *cackle*

Hugs!
Shayla

[Susan]

That sounds like so much fun, Cyndi. Marilyn, Meg and I went on a ghost tour in New Orleans a few years ago. I was extremely disappointed not to meet one.
They went back once when I couldn't make it. The Bourbon-Orleans Hotel was where they stayed, and they had some really close encounters.
I'm still jealous!
Susan
sshay.wordpress.com

[Teresa Reasor]

Cyndi:
Really enjoyed the blogg. I laughed all the way through your comments.

Yes, I do believe in ghosts/spirits. I've had some experiences in the past that have encouraged it. Like being totally alone in the house and hearing a loved one say your name. Or feeling them take your hand in the middle of the night and waking just to lie there and enjoying the comfort they're offering.
My grandmother even had the door open and close right in front of her once right after my grandfather died. No wind. The storm door was closed at the time.

And no, I'm not afraid of spirits. I'm more afraid standing on the streetcorner by myself at dusk. I think the living are the ones you have to look out for.

Can't wait for the next installment.
Write on,
Teresa R.

[Shayla]

Ooops! Forgot to mention... Here's a pic from the cemetary with "ghost orbs" or just dust... *cackle* http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/shiawmeimei/GhostOrbFullSize.jpg.

[roxanne st. claire]

Just had to pop in and say HEY to my buddy, Cyndi. Great post! Put me in with the "I do, but I don't" crowd on ghosts. I have to say that just this week a friend of mine who is writing a ghost-hunting YA series (Marley Gibson - she rocks) showed me a video she took that gave me chills and made a BELIEVER out of me.

Loved the blog post, Cyn!

xoxo
Rocki

[Karen in Ohio]

Cyndi, what a good blog today, and like others, I laughed heartily. And thanks for the link to the video, William. My daughter's imaginary friend when she was three was "Swimer" from Ghostbusters, and it was fun to see her old pal, and also the cameos.

My youngest daughter lives in Charleston, so last year she and I went together to one of the many ghost tours they have in that fair historic city. Our guide led us to a nearly deserted street, right in front of the gates of a cemetery, where he began--with his back to the iron gate--quietly telling of the ghosts that have been seen at that spot. One of the guests on the tour was standing slightly behind the guide, and he leaned his hand on the gate for support. The resulting loud creak made the guide jump! It was hilariously funny.

One of my high school classmates is a ghost hunter, a somewhat famous one, mostly seen on late night TV in the 90s. As far as I know, he never did see a real spirit, which is a bitter disappointment to me. But my grandfather was the sexton at the Catholic cemetery in the little town where we grew up, and we spent lots of time roaming around the graves. If there are spirits, they are mostly benign, based on the peace I always felt there.

[Nancy Haddock]

Cyndi! As always, you're a riot! Thanks for the fun post to kick off my Saturday!

I do believe in ghosts/ spirits/ etc., and have lived with them in various homes. When we moved to FL, I was struck by how spirit free our house was. Now we seem to have acquired an entity. I've asked him or her not to turn the lights on at night bec. it wakes me. :)

Looking forward to the next installment!

Light,
Nancy Haddock
La Vida Vampire

[Kathy Sweeney]

Great blog, Cyndi, and thanks again for being such a great guest!

Hi to all the commenters - isn't Cyndi the best? Come on back and see us again.

As for ghosts? Absolutely, although I prefer to call them spirits. I hear my Pupup's voice all the time, especially when I'm struggling for the right word (he spoke seven languages).

William - thanks for the link. You always find the good ones!

[Rita Scott]

I've had too many experiences with 'the other side' NOT to believe! Usually family members but there's one in the house I'm living in now.
I would love to take the ghost tour in Alton, IL. or the Lemp Mansion in St.Louis.
My family was nice enough to come thru when my husband and a friend were around, so they quit thinking I was crazy. They also set off a smoke alarm that had not been connected to a power source for 6 months, while the landlord was holding it, and not just set it off, but it played a little tune! LOL His wife said he's still trying to figure it out!
Can't wait for tomorrows blog Cyndi!

[Amy Atwell]

Thanks for sharing your cool story, Cyndi! I went on a ghost pub tour in London once (maybe the ARGH employees would have liked that one?). We didn't see any ghosts, but did visit some great Victorian-era pubs and a hospital with its own graveyard. It's all pretty creepy--but energizing!--to think about, isn't it?

[Nancy Martin]

Cyndi, I betcha the rest of the Tarts and I are willing to participate in your book giveaway. Keep track of the winners and send each of us their addresses. I'm happy to donate some Blackbird books!

Great blog! And thanks for being the TLC weekend office manager!

[michele]

Yeah, and I'll give a copy of my latest Melanie book. Great blog, Cyndi, and what a neat experience!

I've never met a strange ghost but every once in a while I feel my father's presence very strongly. It's not an apparition, just a feeling. He passed away almost 15 years ago, but I do believe he visits occasionally.

[storyteller Mary]

On the Delta Queen, the ghost of Captain Mary Becker Green, first woman to be licensed as a riverboat pilot, has reportedly been seen, always in a helpful way. When I was sleeping in the lounge (problem with my stateroom, resolved the next morning) near where her cabin had been, I heard a repeated tapping noise. I think she was on guard duty, making sure nothing happened to an unaccompanied female guest.
The ghost of Mary Sibley reportedly protects the co-eds in Sibley Hall on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles.
Victoria reportedly saved an electrician from a fall on the Goldenrod Showboat.
It makes sense that whatever one was like in life should continue afterward.

[storyteller Mary]

Elaine, I took a St. Joseph statue over to the condo yesterday and buried it out front, upside down, facing the street. I mentioned it to the nurse at the allergist's, and she gave me directions to a shop a few blocks away. They said they have many realtors coming in. I figure I should try everything that might work. (I also gave the refrigerator a good cleaning; I don't know how that got skipped by the paid cleaner, but I feel better about it now).

[ArkansasCyndi]

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting. Sorry I'm late checking in. I didn't go to bed until about 6 this morning. I ended up watching three movies and redoing my blogger page and building a layout for my website. Didn't get through with the website but maybe today.

William! - Thanks for the Ghost Busters Theme. If only I could have that play when this blog post opened! Wouldn't that have been cool?

Karen - I laughed at your gate story. Here's mine...When I was working on these blogs, I had Dragon Speak reading it aloud to me. Suddenly, I heard a gate squeak open. My heart stuttered. GHOST!!! Nope. I was logged into AIM. It the noise AIM made when Delilah Devlin logged on! I almost wet myself.

Shayla - no picture came up in your link.

Going for coffee. I'll be back

[Liz L.]

Great blog, Cyndi. I,too, believe in ghosts or at least spirits. My older sister died way too young. One day her grandson brought home a picture of a flower he'd drawn in school. I swear to God, you could make out her picture in the center. Spooky.

[ArkansasCyndi]

Oooooo. Cool story Liz

[Karen in Ohio]

Cyndi, the link has a period at the end. Delete the period and the link will work.

Mary, I'm so happy to know you've been on the Delta Queen. I always wanted to travel to NO that way, but the one trip I tried to plan was axed by the confusion after 9/11. Sigh.

Harley, girl, get the heck out of New Orleans. There's a big-ass storm headed that way!

[Shada Royce]

Hey Cyndi!

FUNNY blog - I chuckled while I read...ARGH is right, it was just a bit unorganized - especially with the screwed up hotel reservations! Thanks for the Saturday morning laugh!

~ Shada