Monday, October 20, 2008

Ghosting It Forward


Eeni-meenie-jelly-beanie- The Spirits are about to speak! I’ve been tagged for a game of “Ghost It Forward” by my voodoo sister, Callie, at MidWest Horse. I’m really touched by her choosing me, since I often wish that she lived down the road so I could drop by and hang out with her. Here are the rules of this fun new blog-tivity:

1) Have a Ghostly Image to pass along.
2) Tag three people on your blog, with links to their blogs. Tell about what great folks they are, or offer to send them a Ghostly Treat.
3) Include a link to Ghosting It Forward in your blog.

But first, here’s my ghostly picture and story:

As you know, my mother is 94 years old, and her eyesight and hearing are failing. Over the past year, she has been seeing animals and people on our property where no one else does. Increasingly, she has gotten more adamant and annoyed at me when I tell her that there’s no one there. One of my friends, who writes horror novels, thinks that because she is closer to the “other side” than all of us, the spirits of the dead reveal themselves to her. Now, ordinarily, this would freak me out. Weirdly, living in this particular place, it doesn’t. It’s actually kind of soothing to think that we are being “watched over”.

Mom keeps telling me that there’s an old man out in the back by the barn and on the hill. This hill has a grove of cedar trees with an altar or maybe a grave on it. While I’m out there doing my chores, my mother will often stand in the window or outside by the back door and sort of spy on me. It used to drive me crazy to have her lurking around all the time. Recently, she’s been insisting that the old man is there with me. I suggested that if she sees him, she should go talk to him. That’s made her think that I can see him too, and she gets even more upset when I tell her that I can’t.

I was talking to my next door neighbor about heirloom apples last week. She said that when she moved here 15 years ago, she was in her kitchen one day when this old man appeared with all these branches and started doing something to her apple trees. She went out and asked him what he was doing. Very matter-of-fact, he said that he was grafting the old trees onto the younger ones. She learned that he was Mr. Goldberg, the man who had owned this land and built her house, ours and the one next to us. For as long as he lived, he would come over and take care of the trees because to him, this was always his land and he was its steward. He died several years ago.

So, I’m thinking that maybe my mom really is seeing Mr. Goldberg. I asked her more details and she told me that one day, she saw a whole group of people standing on the hill looking at our house. Maybe he assembled all the other spirits of this neighborhood to stop by and meet us. Every morning when I go out to the barn, I say, “Good morning, Mr. Goldberg - how are you doing?”

Okay, so now to pass these ghostly vibes forward:

First to Linda at the 7msn, who makes me laugh and jumps in to help out with such talent and enthusiasm, and who must have some good New Mexico ghost tales (and tails) for all of us.

Next, to Billie at Camera Obscura, who lives a life of grace and kindness that I much admire. Billie is always there for me with insight and great advice. I know she’s in sync with this kind of thing and I look forward to seeing where she will take us.

Third, to Ewa in her garden in Poland, my friend who connects me with my mother’s roots. Ewa has already taken us on some great spiritual adventures, so I hope that she has fun with this one.

Callie already tagged Arlene at Grey Horse Matters, but if she hadn’t, I would have because I’m so lucky to have her as my friend nearby.

Okay, you go girls - Ghost It Forward!

12 comments:

Callie said...

This is great! Your Mom, Bless her heart, is probably seeing the ole man. And he's there to watch over it all and make sure that everyone is taking care. I think I would say "Good Morning" to him as well.

the7msn said...

Hmmm...this is going to be a tough one. But the great story about your mom and Mr. Goldberg has me inspired. Thanks for the tag and those nice things you said. I'll definitely try to keep you laughing with whatever ghostly tale I can dredge up.

Carolynn Anctil said...

Excellent post, Victoria, although I'm glad I'm reading this in the morning and not late at night, just before bed...

I'm a firm believer in the existence of another realm and that spirits can be both benign and friendly. My cat will often play with something I can't see. I choose to believe it's my guardian angels.

It's nice to know that your Mom may have a gentlemanly guide to escort her when she's ready to leave your farm. And, I suppose it's not a bad thing to have an extra man around the place to help out from time to time.

Carolynn

Ewa said...

that is the freaking one.... :))
Okay... how did you know that I need something to take me away from these current situation that crunches me...
Thanks for inspiration and I try to not dissapoint...

Ewa said...

Dear Victoria,
You are welcome to read my Ghostly forward... :)))

billie said...

Victoria, what a wonderful story - I love that your mom is seeing the man, who does sound like he is watching over you and everyone at your farm.

I'm so glad you thought of me - this is the kind of thing I would love to do. I'm also very appreciative of your kind words!

However, I am swamped - these four horses, two donkeys, five cats, two dogs, two kids, husband, parents, clients, and books are all asking for my time right now. I may try to do a Halloween post with this in mind, but I don't want to stop the "ghosting forward" by not having time right now to pass it along.

Maybe someone else who visits will pinch hit and tell a spooky story in my place!

Thank you again!

Victoria Cummings said...

Callie - I do think he's here to take care of us.
Linda- I know you'll come up with something wonderful! Thanks for playing.
Carolynn- Thanks- I think we've all got guardian angels. Maybe your cat is your spirit guide?
Ewa - I hope everyone runs over to your blog - Beautiful ghostly photo and goosebump-y story! I love it!
Billie - I totally understand how it feels to be on overload. No worries - but I'll hope for a Halloween tale from you.

Mrs. Mom said...

Victoria- I am so glad that you found the game fun! It has really been fantastic reading everyones thoughts and tales, and seeing the fun and smiles make the rounds.

Please give those lovely mares a rub from us, and say a Good Morning to your guide as well!

Take care up there in the North Country, and be warm!

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Victoria,
What a fascinating story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I, too have heard the same thing about those who are closer to death seeing images and spirits that the rest of us cannot see.

When my daughter was a baby and we we'd travel in the car, her in the rear-facing car seat, she used to giggle and whisper and talk, and try to reach for something right in front of her or above her head.

A friend of mine said that babies are assigned special angels to watch over them and keep them company when they are so small.
My daughter's angel must have been very funny and entertaining, because he/she always made my little girl smile.

~Lisa

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is a ghostly story! And dont be too quick to dismiss what your mother sees. As you know, there are a lot of things out there that are hard to understand... This is a great story.

Grey Horse Matters said...

That's a great story. I'm sure the old man is back there still being steward of his property and the people inhabiting it. It's not surprising that only your mom can see him. She's probably more in tune with the other side right now with her hearing and vision loss. Thanks for the kind words, I hope I can come up with something interesting. It's wonderful to have such a good and interesting friend. Happy Ghosting!

Strawberry Lane said...

Victoria,
What a great story both about your mother and Mr. Goldberg.

One would think perhaps your mother does sense those that have been there before and have passed on, but their presence is still there.

It's interesting what happens to the minds of those in their very senior years. They seem to sense things we don't.

My mother-in-law lived into her late 90's and was very much like that. I just went along with everything and was actually quite fascinated.

I really liked the part about Mr. Goldberg taking care of his trees.
That is devotion.