Day 86
8/7/22
There's no place like home!!! I couldn't agree more with the sentiment expressed by Dorothy Gale (Wizard of Oz) and my goldens would agree! Being at the cabin seems to bring them so much happiness, but when we start cleaning and packing to head back to Anoka, they make sure we don't forget them!!!
I have lived in the same house, or next door, for my entire life. Even when I wasn't actually residing in The Big White House (as it is referred to in my books for children), my parents were there with an open door to welcome me in at any time.
After I was born, my folks brought me home to a basement apartment in the house I have grown to love. My grandmother owned the home at the time and sold it to our little family when I was about one. She moved down the street for a year, but returned to buy the little Cape Cod next door. Then began a game of rotating homes!
When my own children were growing up, they started in the little house, but we soon traded with Mom and Dad. During the move, friends said that it seemed like no progress was made since nothing ever got cleared out. They would pick up a chair from the big house, take it next door and return with a chair from the little house. Now, my sweet daughter has the little house and I am the one who has the joy of an Open Door Policy for her family.
I have now been back at the Big House, that sits kitty corner on the lot, for almost forty years now. It is a money pit, but we love it with all of its idiosyncrasies. One of those "gifts" that has been handed down with the house would be the resident ghost(s).
We are on the Anoka Ghost Tour in our city and have had many encounters during my life. Most, one could attempt to rationalize away, but some are more "haunting" in nature.
Interestingly enough, the goldens have reacted to a few episodes, which brings more credence to the reality of our "live-in," unseen tenants. They might give a bark, look up at a wall and start wagging their tails in greeting. Those situations certainly gain my attention and deep interest.
The first time I truly believed there just might be some truth to our visitors was when my own children were small. I was closing up the house for the night and noticed a light on under the basement door. I opened the door, reached around to flip the light switch off and realized other lights were on in the basement. I went down the stairway only to find EVERY LIGHT IN THE BASEMENT WAS ON! This included the closets and both bathrooms. As I approached the furnace room, I could smell gas! Rousing the children, we gathered outside to wait for the gas company.
They arrived, clomped down the basement steps and, after what seemed like an eternity, called for me to see what had happened. A poor squirrel had succumbed to the gas fumes, fallen down the chimney and blocked the airway to the outside.
The gentleman from the gas company said, "You are so lucky! If you hadn't come down here to check, you would have been in a bad way by morning! You must have one friendly ghost living here to save your lives!"
With a thank you to the gas company and a halting, timid whispered thank you to our "ghost," we tucked back in for the night. After that, my mind was a bit more open to the unique experiences we have had at The Big White House on the corner.
Take the Ghost Tour this fall to hear more stories from our home and others too...it is well worth it! If you miss that adventure, just stop by and we will regale you with a few hauntingly fascinating stories of our own!
