In my life, I have seen too many things that can’t be explained away by logic or science. I have heard firsthand about doors opening and closing by themselves, heard familiar noises disembodied in the night and felt an icy chill when there should be no cold drafts. I believe that ghosts are real because I have experienced them firsthand. I’m far from alone.
by David Stone
Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
Some people might say that I’m just imagining things, but I know what I saw and heard. I’m not crazy, and I’m not making this up. There are things in this world that we don’t understand, and ghosts are one of them. I don’t know why they’re here or what they want, but I know that they’re real.
Ghostly Stories
Doors opening and closing by themselves
When an older friend of mine was slowly fading from life, her family was startled when her hospital room door opened by itself and, then, slammed shut.
She’d talked firmly about wanting “to go.” They saw this as her way of saying “I’m outa here!” There were no other explanations.
This is an example of what’s known as a “poltergeist.” A poltergeist is a ghost that causes physical disturbances, like moving objects or making noise.
Most poltergeist activity is associated with a particular person, usually a teenager going through puberty. But in this case, there was no moody adolescent around. Just an elderly woman who wanted to “go.”
The family took it as a sign that she was about to die, and sure enough, she passed away peacefully a few days later.
Familiar noises in the night
Many stories tell about voices and other familiar sounds in the night. Including my own.
Having had many cats in the past, I often hear what sounds like a cat landing from a popular jumping spot. For example, from the kitchen counter to the floor.
It’s a very distinctive and familiar sound, and I’m not the only one who hears it. Finally, I decided one or another deceased feline friend was leaving a greeting while enjoying old times. But who knows?
More difficult to explain away are cat calls in the hallway leading to our bedroom in the middle of the night. Cats have identifiable voices and especially some signature calls. I have no explanation of why I’d hear them after they died. I wasn’t thinking about any of them, and when I heard the calls, my immediate reaction was, “Oh, well, George is revisiting his old haunts.”
An icy chill in the air when there should be no cold drafts
Many report this phenomenon. A cool draft will suddenly and inexplicably chill them and, oddly, reminds them of a lost friend or associate.
This is known as a “ghost chill” and is one of the most commonly reported ghostly experiences.
I have experienced this myself, and it’s always accompanied by a sense of sadness or loss.
Actual physical experiences from ghosts
This is what closed the argument for me.
One evening, relaxing at the table after dinner, I saw the impression of a cat running by us and under the table. Anyone can experience an optical illusion, but this was confirmed as real.
My wife and I both looked at each other.
“Did you see that?” she asked.
As it turned out, she saw more detail and even colors. The spectral visitor was our first and now-dead cat, our beloved George.
You may not see or hear or feel them, and you may not know exactly what they are. But one confirmed experience is enough. Now, you know.
Other examples of ghosts in the physical form include apparitions, shadows, mists and even full-blown human figures. These are sometimes called “crisis apparitions” because they appear during a time of crisis or danger.
The actor Alan Arkin recalled visiting his recently widowed mother who told him that his dead father had just came by and gave her financial advice.
A soldier on the battlefield might see the image of a loved one just before being killed. This is thought to be a form of time displacement, where the ghost is seen in the “here and now” but is actually from the past or future.
There have also been cases where people have reported seeing ghosts of themselves. This is known as a “doppelganger” and is said to be an omen of death.
I’m not sure what to make of these experiences, but they’re certainly food for thought.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, I believe in ghosts because I have seen and heard them myself on many occasions. I’m not sure what they are or why they’re here, but I know that they’re real.
I was impressed recently when, asked about ghosts in a political debate, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she believed in them. She even went on to say that she talks with her deceased mother all the time.
Time was when that was a scary kind of admission, likely to crush a career and maybe have you taken in for psychiatric evaluation. But nobody batted an eye, and in fact, her two debate opponents also agreed on a belief in ghosts.
A major problem we have is that mainstream science, which we respect, has trouble dealing with anything not fitting in with their physical model of reality. Worst of all, they are inclined to crudely mock alternative notions.
Sadly, all that does is discourage openness and learning, but the table may be turning. Let’s hope our respected scientists don’t wreck their credibility trying to halt it.
Buy me a coffee. Thanks.
More from Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
- Fatal Stabbing on J Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Spurs Subway Safety Concerns in QueensA fatal stabbing on J train at Woodhaven Boulevard raises fresh subway safety concerns in Queens, as NYPD investigates and riders reflect on recent incidents.
- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
- Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and TransitCoastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.
- Nor’easter Brings Slow Streets and Transit Delays Across Queens and NYCAfter the nor’easter, slow streets and transit delays across Queens and NYC greeted commuters. Utility crews continued repairs as normal routines resumed Monday.
- Nor’easter Brings Flooding and Disruption Across New York CityA powerful nor’easter brings flooding and disruption across New York City, with heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding impacting neighborhoods through the weekend.
The WIRE: Two Futures, One Empty Chair
It is December 6, 2015, and David Stone is writing to Dr. Jack Resnick about a chair that will soon be empty. Dick Lutz is preparing to leave the Main Street WIRE, and Stone has been encouraged to ask whether he might replace him. Seven years of covering art, Cornell Tech and questionable practices inside Public Safety have taught Stone how the paper tells an Island story.
