Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Ghost Story ~ A Sequel ~



October's a time for haunted houses, ghosties, witches, goblins, werewolfs and things that go bump in the night. Some ghost stories just aren't that scary though, like the one that I told here and the same one that my sister Stacey told over here. Both of these stories are about Karen, the ghost of a little girl that was a common place sight in our house and on the acreage were we grew up. We lived, as both stories tell, outside of a remote farming community in the northeast mountains of Oregon were everyone knows everyone and there are many family connections. As we grew up, my siblings and I all moved away, as did our parents. Mom is gone now, but buried in the old cemetary, home again, next to Grandpa and Grandma. In the last few years, three of us have moved back to our home state, dragging our families with us. Dad has come back, too. My brother, Todd, has actually moved back to our hometown where our roots run deep. You may be asking what all this has to do with a ghost story, and I am here to tell you - NOTHING! I got just a little off track, but it's easy to do when you feel so strongly about home.
Okay, back to the ghost story, here we go now...
Like I said, this is a small community, and really in our county and the neighboring county, we all know each other and all seem to have some family connection somehow. (My husband teases us that our family tree has no branches, it just goes straight up. How Rude!!) Our old "homestead" is now owned by a man that my oldest sister graduated with. His little sister was a good friend of mine, and our families were friends. My aunt was at a family reunion picnic this past summer and ended up visiting with a woman who is somehow distantly related and turns out is dating Brian, the man who owns our old place. My aunt told her that her sister (my mom) and family used to own Brians place. The two hadn't been dating a real long time at this point and this gal told my aunt that she wasn't sure what to think of him. She thought there was a possiblity that he drank too much, because he insists that his place is HAUNTED by a little GIRL. "Oh my goodness," said my aunt in shock. "You need to talk to my neices!" Now, you know, we always knew that Karen was not a figment of our imaginations, that she was really there and that all of us couldn't be crazy, but what an affirmation this is. It gives me the goosebumps...Karen is real and she is still there, twenty-two years after I last stepped foot on our little farm.

12 comments:

Terri said...

That's a spine tingler!!! I wonder how she died??

Paula, have I thanked you recently for visting my blog? I appreciate it, and the thoughtful comments too!
God bless!
Terri

Anonymous said...

Wow, that did give me goosebumps too. How strange. I've always been open to this sort of thing although I haven't personally experienced it. Great Hallowe'en story!

Jeni said...

When I was a kid, I'd always hear all the creaking noises of the house at night and being afraid of the dark then, it only added to my fears. Today, I'm not really afraid of the dark -or maybe I am and that's why I tend to stay up till the wee hours of the morning. But, there are times, especially when I sit at the computer I can feel a strong cold draft on my feet and ankles - something no one else in the house ever notices, never feels, and it makes me wonder if perhaps it is a "presence" here. Wonder what it's trying to tell me though - besides maybe, "Go to bed!"

Anonymous said...

Spooky, scary! Especially with your shot of the "other" Flavel house. (I think)

Mary said...

Paula,

I have had a couple of experiences with spirits. Yes, I believe in them. Most are benevolent, but I coped with a very evil spirit at one time. I may just post the story on my blog sometime this month.

Thanks for a good read. Have a Wonderful Wednesday.
Mary

Jeni said...

Glad you liked the picture of Maya in her lion costume. I think Mandy borrowed it from Maya's older half-brother's grandmother who'd used it for the half-brother and also, most likely for the other half-sister to a few years earlier. So we got its money's worth of use out of it then!

Anonymous said...

See we arn't just a bunch of loony's!! & I am moving back to Oregon someday too.
Driving into Powell the other day I was just thinking that bluff looks a bit like Mnt. emily, just with no trees or vegetation. Well you do have to use your imagination, but I'm good at that!

Jodi Renshaw said...

I so totally believe you! My family lived with a ghost for years ... Mrs. Cardimenis (sp?). She was a sweet old lady who died in our home. Her husband sold us the house and moved far away. She used to roam the long hallway, open and shut doors ... and just go about her business as though she were still the lady of the house. one very early morning, my father heard her singing in the hallway as she was walkig toward the kitchen. He went to her -- thinking she was my mother -- and as he leaned in to kiss her good morning, she simply faded away. Amazing, eh??? I love these stories and am so glad that you shared yours!

Love,
Jodi

Cris said...

Wow... spooky huh, wonder what happened to her...

Liquid Sky Arts said...

Ooh... ghost stories, that one gave me chills. I believe it too, there are just some things that happen that can't be explained. That's so sad that they were calling the poor guy a lush though!

I used to be Gigi Minor - but now I'm Annie Kight said...

Creepy Crawlies up and down! I love stuff like that!!! Very cool!
Here's my email Gigi.Minor@Gmail.com so we can exchange recipes!!! Does the Banana with Coconut frosting suit you? Let me know!!!

Anonymous said...

Paula,
Thanks for sharing the ghost story; it's always fun to read them around this time of year!

I wonder if there are any records of the little girl in an old newspaper or something that would explain how she died so young. Sounds like an interesting day at the library to me! =)