So I guess I always thought I'd never seen a ghost, but actually, over the years, there have been many occasions in which deceased loved ones have visited me in my dreams. Nate, my first kiss. Ryan, my boyfriend for two weeks in the seventh grade. Great Grandpa Otto, who gave me some advice that hopefully I wrote down somewhere.
But the most vivid came in 2021 after my beloved Wendy (cat of eighteen years) died in my arms. My heart still aches when I think about her. It may sound silly, but aside from my parents, this cat had lived with me longer than anyone else! (Still the case, to date!)
To cope, I read about pet owners being visited by the ghosts of their dearly departed fur-balls. I wanted so badly for Wendy to come. And then one night while I was half asleep--I felt her there next to me. Pet her soft fur and could feel her purring. And then she was gone, but the house that had felt so empty after she'd left, didn't feel so empty anymore.
A friend of mine, he has those Alaskan dogs that race in the Iditarod. He keeps seven or eight at a time, and recently one of his old-timers had to get put down. He had an in-home vet come to do it, and the rest of the pack was in the other room. But he started filming when, after the old-timer had gone, the dogs in the other room started howling, like his spirit had just passed.
I'm not a believer in a lot of things, but stories like this bring me comfort. Because I do fear death, and its finality. I don't want this life to end. I love it so much, all of it, the ups and downs.
So are there ghosts?
I hope so.
And when it's my turn to go, I'll be damn sure to tell my sons.
So I guess I always thought I'd never seen a ghost, but actually, over the years, there have been many occasions in which deceased loved ones have visited me in my dreams. Nate, my first kiss. Ryan, my boyfriend for two weeks in the seventh grade. Great Grandpa Otto, who gave me some advice that hopefully I wrote down somewhere.
But the most vivid came in 2021 after my beloved Wendy (cat of eighteen years) died in my arms. My heart still aches when I think about her. It may sound silly, but aside from my parents, this cat had lived with me longer than anyone else! (Still the case, to date!)
To cope, I read about pet owners being visited by the ghosts of their dearly departed fur-balls. I wanted so badly for Wendy to come. And then one night while I was half asleep--I felt her there next to me. Pet her soft fur and could feel her purring. And then she was gone, but the house that had felt so empty after she'd left, didn't feel so empty anymore.
A friend of mine, he has those Alaskan dogs that race in the Iditarod. He keeps seven or eight at a time, and recently one of his old-timers had to get put down. He had an in-home vet come to do it, and the rest of the pack was in the other room. But he started filming when, after the old-timer had gone, the dogs in the other room started howling, like his spirit had just passed.
I'm not a believer in a lot of things, but stories like this bring me comfort. Because I do fear death, and its finality. I don't want this life to end. I love it so much, all of it, the ups and downs.
So are there ghosts?
I hope so.
And when it's my turn to go, I'll be damn sure to tell my sons.
Isn’t that Chuck story so good and moving?!?! Thanks for sharing! Can I steal your ghost story for my story?
It is good. I’d never read that one before. And yes. 🙂
My favorite (mostly) fictional ghost story? Sea Oak by George Saunders: https://www.barcelonareview.com/20/e_gs.htm
What’s yours?