Thursday, October 29, 2009

Yppah Neewollah!

Me and my brother, Mark, approximately 1958 or 1959

This coming Saturday is Halloween. Hallows, Hallowmas, Samhain or All Hallows Eve is the final jewel in the crown of the year. At this time, the power of the year is represented by the crone. Wise and strong, she is symbolic of honoring the aging process and individual work. With the death of the year, comes rebirth and renewal at Yule. This is a wonderful time to affirm what you want in your life for the coming year.

Vail, Colorado

The veils between worlds is thinnest on this night. The air is alive with the possibility of connecting with people, loved ones and pets that have passed on to the afterlife. In ancient texts, it is written that those who have been deceased for at least a year and one day may come back to visit. I always try to communicate with the dead on this night. So far, I don't recollect any visitations. I usually fall asleep and have a vague sense that there is something I should remember. Maybe, just maybe, this time I will retain the memory of who comes to call. I really, really want to know that we connected.

And now a story for the season. My sister's mother-in-law, R, shared this ghost story with me after she read my post, Ghostown.

"By the way, not too long after my sister, "M", passed away, before we moved up here, my daughter "T" had a visit from her one night. "T" told me the next morning that "M" was just standing in the doorway looking at her and smiling. "T" said she was not scared and pretty soon "M" faded away. "T" went back to sleep. I told "T" that her Aunt "M" probably just wanted to say goodbye to her one last time. "M" and "T" always had a close relationship while she was alive. I had a chance to say goodbye to "M" while she was at UCLA Medical Hospital but "T" wasn't with me."

Thanks for sharing this story with me, R. How about any one else? Have you, or someone you know, had an experience that falls outside the range of "normal"?

Vail, Colorado

37 comments:

The Silver Fox said...

Very nice post, viewing the subject from different angles.

I would absolutely love it if the ghosts of my loved ones were to visit. (And maybe I'll elaborate on that sometime, if you ever catch me in a private email.)

Ronda Laveen said...

SF: I will email you about the ghosts. You have piqued my curiosity.

Brian Miller said...

hello ronda...been a bit since you were on the tt circuit...love the ghost story...i allude to several ghosties in mine...have had a few unexplainable circumstances in my day.

JGH said...

Hmmm- that would explain why I'm feeling a little "croney" lately!

Never really seen a ghost, but my house sometimes has weird noises. Children's footsteps and laughter when nobody is home, loud unexplained "slams" in the middle of the night. I do wonder.

That old costume photo is precious.

Tess Kincaid said...

That photo of you and your brother is priceless!!!!

CiCi said...

What I want in my life for the next year is for it not to be like last year and for hubby to not have a manic episode. Does that count for what I want, or is that depending too much on someone else's behavior? That is such a wonderful picture of you and your brother. I will be interested if you make a connection with someone Saturday.

Candie said...

I always enjoy your posts Ronda!
Love to you

The Author said...

I feel sorry for your brother having to walk around in that costume. But its adorable.

Wings1295 said...

Spooky! But a cool pic!

Happy Halloween!

Kat Mortensen said...

I always envy people their experiences with the paranormal. Mind you, I probably wouldn't cope very well if I did myself.

Love that photo of you and your brother. The robot is reminding me of "Commander Tom" on Channel 7 out of Buffalo.

The crow is reminding me of one of my fave scary movies, "The Omen". Must dig that out.

Kat

Dreamhaven said...

I was visiting a friends house and stayed overnight. When I got up in the morning, there was a stack of 45's that had gone wavy, as if some one had pressed down into clay with their fingers. Way spooky.

Ty for sharing your story.

Ze O said...

Sweet fancy Moses, how I love this post!
It has everything I adore: photos of super cute children in creative costumes, ravens and - I forget the name of the flower, but love them (and I am NOT a flower person mind you! ;)) crones, and to top it off a great ghost story of final goodbyes. *Sniff*

Hmmm... I am usually full of stories like that. Today I can only think of another tale from the nursing home I used to work at, I may have shared it before:
There was this nice resident, I think Jon was his name, I believe he was Scandinavian.
Well, Jon was really old so one night he died. The room stayed empty for a couple of nights after that but his call bell kept on going off at the nursing station's switchboard - 12 times a night and more. The night nurse and care aides were pretty freaked out. The maintenance guy established that there was a short circuit triggered by furniture that has been moved around. Riiiiight...

The End! :)

Leah said...

I've had spooky visitations from lost loved ones before (I blogged about it once, I think), and I can only hope that they might avail themselves of the thin separation and come back again on Saturday evening! I appreciate the way you put it: "the air is alive with the possibility." That's beautiful.

and p.s. your photo is so special and funny, I love it!

Betsy Brock said...

The picture is adorable of you and your brother! Love the 50's kitchen you are standing in, too!

Interesting ghost story...I like the comforting kind. One of my cats that has died is still here as a ghost cat. He still curls his tail around my leg while I stand in the kitchen! Nobody will believe me when I say I see him all the time.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Now Ronda...those costumes you and your brother wore were TIP TOP!

e said...

Interesting post and cute photo. I hope you'll let us know if anything happens Saturday.

Ronda Laveen said...

Brian: You are correct in your observation that I've not been on the TT circuit most of the summer. Busy, busy times. I hope to hit more frequently soon. Yes, I noted your "ghosties" in your post. I've read previous posts of yours about living next to the cemetery. Makes me wonder some things...hmmm, later on that.

JGH: Children's laughter? Footsteps? Doors slamming? Wow, it certainly sounds like you have activity in your house. Maybe on Saturday night...

Willow: Thank you. My mom was very creative and most of the costume was probably "priceless" as in free.

TechnoBabe: Your wishes are certainly within reach. Just those thougts alone can help your hubby stabilize. Keep seeing him as he would be best served in his life. That's how we do it!

Ronda Laveen said...

Candie: Love to you too. XXOO

RJ Edwards: Yes, he did have a bit of a rough time walking...but not enough to give up the costume.

Wings: Happy Halloween and TT 2u2!

Kat: Yes, the paranormal can be a bit distrubing but cool too! The Omen! What a perfect movie for this weekend. We don't get Commander Tom out here that I know about. Will have to Google him.

Dreamhaven: What a cool story! And a cool way of describing the way the stack of records looked.

Ronda Laveen said...

Christina: "Sweet Fancy Moses!" I have NEVER heard that phrase before but you can bet I'll be using it now. The flower is a lily. I love them too! I've read a couple of your nursing home stories but not this one. Poor Jon must have scared the bejesus out of the maintainence man. They always have to find some logical reason for what is not logical:0

Ronda Laveen said...

Leah: Yes, I remember your ghostly post! It was so good. Please let me know if you make a connection when the veil is thin and matter is less dense. I really think we are living side-by-side with other universes and dimensions. All we have to do is reach across and...

Betsy: I know, I was trippin' on the memories that were re-kindled by seeing that kitchen. I even see my lunch pail sitting on the counter next to the mixer. I do believe that you see your cat. How comforting for you both that he wraps his tail around your leg. I don't often SEE...only on occasion but, I usually KNOW or FEEL the presence. Sometimes I HEAR. But my friend, Deidra, sees all the time. She sees lots of beings with us and sharing with us. You have a gift.

Jill: My mom made those costumes for probably next to nothing. She was always very creative. My dress was made of blue crepe paper with glue glittered stars and cardboard, glittered crown and wand. But it did make it through the night. She was also a waitress so she saved those round, cardboard ice cream containers for weeks to make my brothers robot costume.

e: Glad you liked the pic. I will do a post about the company who calls on Saturday night.

Ronda Laveen said...

To All: I just visited Reya from After the Gold Puppy. Her post was about the thinning of the veil between worlds. I was reminded that not only are there good spirits and entities out there, there are also the not so good variety.

So be clear with your intent to only accept communication from those that are good and of the Light. Also, she reminded me of the use of hanging a sprig of rosemary and a garlic bulb on your door knob to turn away unwanted attention.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Rhonda
I did get the distinct feeling D Thomas was happy we said "Cheers" to him as we sat in his old spot,in the tavern.

The picture of you an your brother is priceless! It made me smile.

Ronda Laveen said...

Pat: I loved learning that that tavern is still frequented by the presence of Dylan Thomas. It was so cool you could sit at "his" table. Glad you liked the photo.

Mike said...

The way some of my family acts, I cannot imagine them as ghosts! Dysfunctional ghosts???

California Girl said...

Incredible costume your brother had. Did your folks make it?

My birthday is Nov 1, All Saints Day. Does that make me the crone? I feel like one!

Ronda Laveen said...

Otin: Yes, some ghosts are dysfunctional. I've not heard it said that way before but is an apt description:-)

Cali Girl: Yes, my mother made my brother's costume. She was a waitress and saved those large, cardboard ice cream containers for weeks to make it. It is funny (as in uncanny) that you liked his costume. His birthday is Nov 1 too!!!!! Well, if you are an older lady in or post menopause, you would be a crone. A wise, wise woman with lots of learned life lessons.

Mrsupole said...

When I enlarged the picture I could see your brothers eyes peeking out of the eye holes, that was an awesome costume your mom made. She was very artistic with the the stained glass and both of your costumes. I think your fairy wand is cool and maybe a precursor of your future.

I hope your Saturday is filled with only good contacts. Looking forward to finding out what happens. And you know I have had too many of those experiences, maybe I will post one on the 13th.

Should we try to have another Ghost Posting since it is our last Friday the 13th of this year. Let me know what you think. I hope I would be up to sponsoring it again. I know Auntie is still in as much pain as I am. I'm not sure if you know she had shoulder surgery almost a month after mine. Maybe Otin would sponsor it. I'll have to ask him. He can put Mr. Linky up on his site. I could too if I can find my password. But I think he would be great to sponsor it this year. Hmmmmm, yup he would be great. It suits him somehow.

God bless.

Reya Mellicker said...

LOVE the pic of you and your brother. You two are adorable!

Ghost stories, sheesh I could write a book.

xx & love,

Dorraine said...

Loved the adorable picture! Thanks for sharing that and your story.

I actually have many stories, one in particular that happened in Louisiana, which I'll be using in an upcoming book series.

Here's one I can share. One night the girls and I were watching TV downstairs. My husband was out of town. Anyway, this coin (a quarter) comes flying down from upstairs and lands in front of the TV. Nobody said a word. We were shocked. We were all accounted for right there in the living room. I read later that ghosts like to use coins to show that they are around.

If you ever want to exchange ghosts stories do let me know, Ronda!

Ronda Laveen said...

Sherry: I think the Friday 13th story idea is a good one and Otin is probably the best person to ask. I had not thought about the wand being a forerunner of things to come. Great observation and I have loved wands since I was that age. I have no idea to set up Mr. Linky but will try if he can't do it. I would just need some advance notice to get it done in time.

Reya: I have some more photos coming for you soon. And about the book of ghost stories? I keep waiting}

Dorraine: I would love to exchange stories with you. Reya of After the Gold Puppy has many, many stories. I have heard about ghosts and coins before too. Thanks so much for sharing your story here and I look forward to reading your series.

lettuce said...

yes, I too would love a visit or two tonight.

your fancy dress costumes are just brilliant

tony said...

This Time Of Year My Dreams are more likely to Include Those who have passed-on.

Ronda Laveen said...

Lettuce: I hope you get your visitors! Glad you liked the costumes.

Tony: Wow! That is really interesting about your dreams of people who've crossed over. Hmmm, should start a poll.

Ze O said...

Hi Ronda

I was thinking of you yesterday with regards to the thinning veil. It was a rather special night - was that a full moon? Not quite yet I don't think.

Ronda Laveen said...

Hi Christina: I was thinking of U2. Not quite a full moon, I think. But quite spectacular none the less.

Joanna Jenkins said...

What a fabulous picture!!!! You guys look great!

Hope you had a fun Halloween.
xo

Ronda Laveen said...

Joanna: Welcome Thanks so much. And I did!