Ghost Stories

Sharing Stories

October 17, 2022 at 11:57 a.m.

Caspar the Friendly Ghost visited me

...by Ariele M. Huff

Ghost Stories

One of the benefits of teaching writing classes and leading writing groups for 45 years is that I hear a lot of interesting stories.
On the rare occasion that someone offers a ghost story—a moment when they sincerely believe they or someone else has had a connection with a deceased person—groups break into two segments.

The larger number of people immediately and with relief or gladness admit to having had that kind of experience. However, there is always at least one person who…as quickly…says “I don’t believe in the supernatural.”

Then, I say, “Well, if you haven’t had that kind of experience, no problem.”

And this is fun. Without an exception, that nonbeliever will jump to say, “But I did have this one experience I can’t explain.”

I have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t got a good ghost story to tell.
It seems appropriate, during this time of year, to share some of them. I’ll start with a couple of mine.

My father was quite interested in spiritual things and said he’d “be around” after his death. He also promised to make it really clear it was him.

A hospice worker, my mother, and sister were with him at his death. All three women saw a splash of golden light move out of his body, across the wall, and out the window. The hospice worker said this was not unusual.

That night I woke to see a smiling, glowing little Casper the Ghost right next to the bed…inches between our faces. He was beaming with love, but it was disconcerting. In my head, I wondered why this visitation didn’t look like Dad. I heard his immediate answer that he chose the least scary way to visit me. I responded that I was scared, nonetheless. And the image disappeared in a snap.

After these experiences, we all had further hard-to-explain “visitations.” A door in our inside hallway slammed loudly with no apparent reason—never had before and never did after. I went to see what could have happened. All I found was a particularly cold spot behind it that reminded me of other people’s ghost stories.

Another Dad story: My daughter’s family moved in with Mom to help her after the death. She had a one-year-old son who had an "activity chair" with noisemakers of all kinds in front of him to keep him entertained: a xylophone with hammer, a horn to squeeze, some bells to ring, a whistle to blow in.

The baby was in bed asleep. Mom and Kris were in the kitchen chatting when suddenly, all the things on the chair began to make noises. Now, again…all of these were hand operated. None were connected to electricity. It went on for a period of time while my stunned family watched. They immediately concluded that this had been a visit from Dad.

Several other visits included dreams, cold spots, and answers to questions. “Dad, where are the pliers you gave me?” The kind of question that all of us began to ask as it always led to an immediate find.

FYI: Mom told us that when she left there’d be an even better show! And I was there for her death, so I got to see the initial extravaganza.

Ariele M. Huff hosts Sharing Stories and would LOVE to read your ghost story. Send to ariele@comcast.net! Huff also creates Writing Corner, gathers poems, and edits them for Poetry Corner. She teaches online, ZOOM, and Skype classes; edits manuscripts and authors books—over 30 on Amazon; and publishes herself and others on brands Candy Bar Books and Band Aid Books.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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