Location: Nobadeer Beach, Nantucket IslandDate: July 16, 2013
Time: Approximately1:30 p.m.
Conditions: HOT! The first excessively hot day of the summer
Mission: Blog post material
I sat with four other moms at the water’s edge. The surf was unusually calm, lapping at the shore rather than crashing to it. The lack of force frustrated the kids who wanted to surf and boogie board. A breeze occasionally spun up to cool us. We swam when the heat was too much. Our mom conversation was familiar, as per usual you could say, and similar to mom beach conversations the whole world over I’m sure.
Where’s Billy?
How’s Rosie?
Gawd, it’s hot!
And so it was during a quiet moment in the routine of this sweltering afternoon that I chose to ask my leading question.
“I’m taking a poll,” I said. “Do you guys believe in ghosts?”
A wave slithers up the sand, almost reaching our feet before receding with a hiss.
Mom #1 “No. I don’t think so.”
Mom #2 “Yes.”
Mom #3 “Definitely.”
Mom#4 “Yeah. I guess.”
You heard it here first folks. According to my terribly scientific survey, seventy-five percent of people believe in ghosts. Or maybe it’s just three out of four moms at the beach. However you prefer to think about it is fine with me.
Of the three women who said yes, two told me specific stories of encounters with possible ghostly beings. In order to protect their identities, I can’t divulge the details but I can assure you that the tales were all standard ghostly fare involving strange smells, weird feeling of being watched, and random things slamming to the floor for no apparent reason. When I hear these stories, I am always a believer. Of course these things really happened and of course they are proof of the paranormal, right?
But what about the rest of the time? What about when I’m thinking rationally, alone at my desk in the light of day, do I believe then? After all, I’m the weirdo who wrote a whole book about ghosts so that must mean I do. Sadly, though, my answer to my own question would have been a resounding “Maybe.” This may be disappointing to hear but I have to be honest and say that I am still up in the air about the existence of ghosts. Call me a skeptic at heart because without hard and fast proof, I inevitably look for reasonable explanations for the things that happen in most ghost stories. Like maybe the house settled and that’s why something slammed. Or maybe a lady with rose-scented perfume just walked by the open window. Or maybe a person was just having a very vivid dream and they really didn’t see anyone beside their bed.
In the end, I think I wrote a book about ghosts because I want them to be real. I want ghosts to exist, and I want there to be real people like Jade in the world who see them.
So how would you answer if I asked you the question? It’s a simple question, really, only requiring a Yes, a No, or a Maybe. But your explanations? That’s when the story begins…
Get your copy of Melissa's newest book, Ever Near, which happens to be a ghost story, and decide for yourself.
Mom #3 “Definitely.”
Mom#4 “Yeah. I guess.”
You heard it here first folks. According to my terribly scientific survey, seventy-five percent of people believe in ghosts. Or maybe it’s just three out of four moms at the beach. However you prefer to think about it is fine with me.
Of the three women who said yes, two told me specific stories of encounters with possible ghostly beings. In order to protect their identities, I can’t divulge the details but I can assure you that the tales were all standard ghostly fare involving strange smells, weird feeling of being watched, and random things slamming to the floor for no apparent reason. When I hear these stories, I am always a believer. Of course these things really happened and of course they are proof of the paranormal, right?
But what about the rest of the time? What about when I’m thinking rationally, alone at my desk in the light of day, do I believe then? After all, I’m the weirdo who wrote a whole book about ghosts so that must mean I do. Sadly, though, my answer to my own question would have been a resounding “Maybe.” This may be disappointing to hear but I have to be honest and say that I am still up in the air about the existence of ghosts. Call me a skeptic at heart because without hard and fast proof, I inevitably look for reasonable explanations for the things that happen in most ghost stories. Like maybe the house settled and that’s why something slammed. Or maybe a lady with rose-scented perfume just walked by the open window. Or maybe a person was just having a very vivid dream and they really didn’t see anyone beside their bed.
In the end, I think I wrote a book about ghosts because I want them to be real. I want ghosts to exist, and I want there to be real people like Jade in the world who see them.
So how would you answer if I asked you the question? It’s a simple question, really, only requiring a Yes, a No, or a Maybe. But your explanations? That’s when the story begins…
Get your copy of Melissa's newest book, Ever Near, which happens to be a ghost story, and decide for yourself.
Ever Near is available from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook), or Barnes & Noble.
6 comments:
Many years ago I would have poo-pooed the idea of ghosts. that is until I had an experience of my own that simply could not be explained away. I still think much of what passes for the paranormal is claptrap, but ask me if I believe in ghosts and the answer will be a resounding "Yes".
Entertaining guest post Ms. MacVicar, I enjoyed reading it. I do believe in ghosts; however I can’t say I have ever seen one. I do believe I have felt their presence though.
Thanks for having me on the blog, Big Al!
Thanks, Melissa.
I'm a non-believer myself, but my daughter and oldest granddaughter insist their house is "haunted" (but by good ghosts). I have yet to encounter any when I've been there though. :)
I love all readings paranormal. It gets me out of and I absolutely loved Ghost Whisperer so I am constantly searching for something to fill that void.
I would have poo-pooed the idea of ghosts. that is until I had an experience of my own that simply could not be explained away. I still think much of what passes for the paranormal is claptrap, but ask me if I believe in ghosts.Guest Survey Methods
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