Ghosts, like ladies, never speak till spoke to.

I’m open to the possibility of the supernatural.  I don’t know the why’s or how’s or what-for’sbut I’ve had enough weirdness happen to me in my life to know better than toclose my mind to it.

I’m not talking about unicorns and fairies . . . although I’mfairly certain that we have a house gnome, brownie or domovoi sharing our homewith us . . . like I said . . . weirdness.

What I’m referring to are ghosts.  I don’t know what happens when we die;whether there’s heaven or reincarnation, but I don’t think it’s justnothingness.  I believe that the essenceof who we are . . . a spirit . . . does exist beyond our physical death.

I’ve been in houses that from the very moment I step foot overthe threshold that I want nothing more than to get out.  It’s primal and it’s undeniable . . .something screaming for me to leave. I’ve been places where I would spy a shape or movement in my peripheralvision when nothing was there.

When I was younger I worked in a restaurant that had beenonce been the home and workplace for a blacksmith.  I had no issues working on the main flooralthough I would often spy a man out of the corner of my eye that wouldn’t bethere when I turned to look.  However,going to the second floor was an act of sheer will.  I’m sure that whoever was there didn’t wantme there and made it clear by expressing an unmistakable message with negativeenergy.    Thankfully I didn’t have to goup there as a regular part of my job but that’s where the bathroom was . . .sometimes when you gotta go, you gotta go.

 

The strongest and most vivid experience was when I wasdating my first husband and continued on after we were married.  It was ongoing and lasted for years.  It wasn’t an everyday thing but it happenedoften enough that I knew I wasn’t imagining things.   My now ex-husband’s family lives in one ofthe oldest houses in our town which was settled in 1630.  It used to be a farmhouse on a rather largeexpanse of land.  Now it’s just a niceold Colonial on a quiet residential street.  

I started experiencing things when I spent the night there.  I would wake up in the middle of the nightwith a huge . . . for the lack of a better word . . . orb hovering above orvery near me.  It was dark, menacing andrun through with deep colors like purples and reds.  It was extremely disquieting.  This didn’t happen once or twice it happeneda lot.  It got to the point that if Iwoke up and it was still dark that I would lie still with my eyes tightlyclosed because I was so scared . . .

My husband grew up in that house and but I think the spiritwas somehow attached to him because when we had our own home the same sort ofthings happened there too.  Not as oftenbut usually when I was in bed alone and it intensified when I was pregnant withour son.  Again, I would lie still withmy eyes closed until I fell back to sleep. It wasn’t just a visual thing . . . I could feel it . . . and it was unhappy.

I don’t know how I know this but I know the ghost was a sheand I got the distinct feeling she was very jealous.  I also somehow know her name was Sarah, hadlong blonde hair and in Colonial dress.

Interestingly, after I separated from him I never again had thoseencounters.  So either it really was aghost or just a dark cloud looming over our doomed relationship.  Maybe I should have taken it as an omen runscreaming while I had the chance.

Anyhoo, occasionally I still get the feeling of somethingnear or catch movement out of the corner of my eye, but never anythingmalevolent.  Just something going about doing whatever it isthat spirits do.

Italian BBQ Pork Chops

3/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 Cup Ketchup

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Clove Garlic, Minced

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

1 Tablespoon DijonMustard

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

4 (6 Ounce) Pork Loin Chops

Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper To Taste

Stir the balsamic vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper together in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook the sauce at a simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes.


Preheat oven to 350°.


Brown pork chops and place  in bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.  Pour sauce over pork chops. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until chops are tender.