Paranormal

You know that I have a, what... fascination?  Interest? ...in the paranormal.  Let's just say that I have an open mind.  My Mum once told me that, whilst washing up in the kitchen one day, at the family home in Liverpool, she felt a touch on her shoulder and heard the name; 'Babs', my Granddad's pet name for my Mum as she was the baby, this was around 1949, 1950, after he had passed away. It was Granddad's voice she heard.

One night after school, long before Jan was married, I was eleven or slightly older and some discussion at high school triggered the conversation between me, Mum and Jan that evening over dinner.  I heard how Jan and Mum, after visiting Auntie Peg whilst she was ill, had driven away in a taxi watching Auntie Peg, at the door, waving them goodbye... surrounded by a halo of light.  Mum and Jan had not immediately wanted to say what they saw, but later, it had come out, and they both had witnessed this strange glow.

That night, Mum sat in the chair by the window in the living room and Jan and I were kneeling beside her, I don't remember what we were looking at, a book of some sort.  Jan and I both, instantaneously saw a figure walk past, behind us.  I just saw the lower half of a woman, imagine maybe Ginger Rogers, 1940's, a confident woman striding past wearing a just below the knee skirt, maybe pleated, which cascades behind on every step.

Jan and I looked at each other.  Mum must have asked 'what?' and whatever we described, Mum sprang into action with both Jan and I scurrying behind her.  Mum checked every room like the lioness she was, there was no one living, to be found.

Jan and I have discussed this night many, many times before, but never before have I asked her what exactly did she see?

I am in no doubt what I saw, this week, I asked Jan what exactly did she see, she said she saw white and old, like clothing from The Railway Children, a woman.  Our accounts don't match exactly but in that instant, we both saw something.

In the last couple of weeks, I've started to watch Celebrity Ghost Stories.  I have had to stop watching at bed time.  I came to realise that while I am open to the paranormal, I only apparently believe in friendly visits from loved ones, not from angry spirits who wish to do harm, which is what most of these stories consist of.

The one exception is Loretta Lynne, her story was wonderful and what an amazing lady.