a real life ghost story :)

So today I thought it might be fun to head over to Old Town San Diego. There's a lot of history behind the city...but moreso I wanted to see the Whaley House. Some of you might of heard of it :) because it's considered the most haunted house in America. Apparently there are only two houses in California which are certified as haunted--the Whaley house is one of them. I know I have a lot of "visual" readers hehe so here's the pics:

Yes I believe in ghosts and I'll tell you why :)
When I was a kid (I think I was like 4 or 5 years old) my mom told me to get my dad for dinner which required me to open the laundry room door and then open the door which leaded to the garage (supposedly my dad was working in the garage). Problem was...the second I opened the door to the laundry room I saw this "thing" just THERE. Standing there as if it were just simply waiting for me. It was all black this "thing" and most of it was pretty hard to make out but I do remember seeing a portion of it's distorted face. And though this "thing" wasn't clear as day...it was *definitely* not a shadow.
Growing up I always remembered that day. I only remembered my mom telling me to get my dad and then seeing it. For some reason I couldn't remember what happened afterwards. I was 16 years old when my mom finally asked me what I remembered from that day. We never really talked about it until that point--I think mostly because as a child she just wanted me to forget about it--as so not to create anxiety. I told her what I remembered and she asked if I remembered what happened after I saw this thing. My mind drew a complete blank...until she started explaining and then I swear to you I felt like I was reliving the whole thing over again. She started to tell me that I screamed bloody murder and as I was running for dear life to the complete other side of the house I kept screaming "mommy!!! mommy!! mommy!!!"  It hit me like a ton of bricks. I finally remembered. I remember depsperately thinking that this thing killed my mom (because my mom was right next to the door and I ran past her like a bolt of lightning). I remember (after what seemed like a century for her to catch up with me) trying my hardest to tell her what I saw but I was so badly in shock and so frightened that all I could ask was if she was ok and if it "got her". I remember feeling the worst kind of horror you could ever imagine.

and to tell you the honest to god truth, I think this very day is the reason why I am *deathly* afraid of the dark.  Most people sleep with lights off but I don't. In fact, I'll bet most peoples nightmares are about being chased by a killer or something like that. Mine (nightmares) almost always include a ghost, all of my lights flickering off, or both lol.

I used to tell people this story but soon realized it was a waste of time--people roll their eyes and come up with scenarios to explain this terror that I experienced...really though, when it comes down to it I know what I saw and only I will ever know. So this is why I truly believe they exist.

While I was at the Whaley house I didn't see, smell, or hear anything out of the ordinary--which is probably a good thing lol. As I was leaving I heard this really beautiful bird song and when I looked over it was a little hummingbird right there on the branch. Just sitting there singing a song--it was amazing. Totally grabbed my camera as quickly as possible and was able to get about 6 pictures until it flew away :) it reminded me of Sarah Bowen who is a total animal lover so I'm gonna make a print of these and send them to her as a "just because" gift :)

Last night I started making a mini Holland album. I wasn't sure what to do because there are A LOT of photos that I have from going there, but it would take me a century to scrapbook it all, and on the other hand if I do a mini album I can't get bigger pictures into it ya know? So I used this Maya Road sheer tab book album and I decorated the tab plastic pieces as if those were my scrapbook pages and then for each section I can just punch holes into the pictures and add them. I'm really happy with the outcome so far since I can still get those bigger pictures in there :)

My fam is in Germany right now so they gave me a key to their house so that I can still come over and relax. It's really nice of them to let me still go over there even though they won't be home because they have a lot of fun gadgets I can play with...like my uncle has 4 different kinds of awesome guitars (yes I play hehe), and they have the Wii with a couple cool games for it. My aunt even left me a little something which is in a shoebox in her room so its kind of exciting to see what that is :) and one of my favorite things is that they have direct tv and tivo so she saved a bunch of fun episodes for me to watch. I don't have cable right now--I just can't be paying $65 a month to watch tv which I hardly ever do to begin with lol. If it was free I'd be all over it haha but thats just too much for me to spend just to watch it myself ya know? So I always get caught up on things when I go to my aunts house :)

Anyways, I'm leaving tonight and I'll be back on Tuesday :)
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and please don't forget the reason why we celebrate this special part of the year :)

hugs, Adrienne

Comments

[Amy]

Your ghost story totally freaked me out. When I was little I was afraid of my parents room when it was dark. I used to pass it on the way to my room and everytime I would look in I would see a dark figure standing in front of the mirror. He seemed about 7 feet tall. There were only 3 of us in the 2 bedroom apartment, so it was impossible for it to be one of my parents. They never understood why I ran down the hall as fast as I could when sent to my room and threw on the lights. I grew up in Escondido, and the entire time I lived in that apartment, I saw that figure at night. I would run with my eyes closed to avoid him. I try not to think about it, but it still gives me chills when I do! I never went into the Whaley house while living there, but always wanted too, your pics are fantastic. As is the Maya Road album, love it! Thanks for being an inspiration! Amy

[nikki]

love the pics from old town... what kind of a lense are they with??

[Tracy Rizzo]

You're not alone. I'm lucky my Mom,and brother have seen things like I have.My husband rolls his eyes though-very annoying

[Munchie]

Oh, I believe your story! And I too am scared of the dark and sleep with the lights on, at age 33! My great-grandmother use to be in the circus and had a crazy and exciting life. I loved her dearly and she use to tell me stories of people over the years who made a difference in her life along the way or just who was interesting enough to stay with her, but as they died, she said some visited her. I was at the age of 5-7 years and at the time scared me, but I loved to listen to the stories. Once her cousin's wife (who had passed) was standing beside her as she woke from a nap. She starled her and asked how the hell did she get in the house, lol, and then she disappeared. the next week, her cousin died. My granny said she thought maybe if she had not been so mean, she was probably there to warn her in some way of the upcoming death. All of these may have been "stories" but I believed her. I too believe in ghosts! The stories I think have made me scared of the dark. Loved your story!

[miss morgan]

scary scary story! i lived in a house that totally made me believe. just glances and footsteps and stuff. i had a friend with truly terrifying stories of a house she used to live in, and moved out of because of it. i'm gettign goosebumps just thinking about it. eek! sending comforting thoughts your way! p.s. love the mini obviously!

[Mick]

Hi Adrianne,
I totally had to cry reading your ghost story. It sound so familiar. I lived in an appartment till I was 3. To get to my parents bedroom I had to cross the hallway and pass the stairs. In the staircase lived a 'monster', if I woke up in my parents room it didn't catch me and if i woke up in my own room it did catch me. I always tought about it as bad dream untill a few months ago. I told the story about the dreams to a special woman and I had to cry and I suddenly knew it wasn't a dream but a 'thing'or ghost everything felt into its place (how we say that in Dutch). I have been so scared to ghosts, dark unknown things al my live, I hope I can let this go someday soon.
Merry X-mas, love Mick

[eef]

I think I'll have to have my sister read this, she was totally scared as a child, and I think it was probably a goast too. I had one in my bedroom at a place I stayed a while agoo, it was horrible...totally bad vibe. Enough about it :D have a great X-mas!!!! XOXO Eef

[D@nielle]

Lovely album and ehm ghosts yep I believe in them although I don't think I ever "met" one though. Have a great christmas.

[femke]

(My english is not so good but I try)
WOW what a story. It's al little bit scary.
I don't ever see a ghost in my life but i believe in life after this life on earth.
I think every day that my grandma is with me and she helps me with everything.
I really think she helps me with school, because I'm not so perfect in learning from the books (how do you write it??)
So your story is not so weird for me. There is something next life here, I believe.

And now your album. It's a great album, with much fun on the pictures.
Are you a friend of Corinne? Do I see that clear??

I wish you a merry christmas and enjoy this wonderful time!

Greetings,
Femke

[AndreaWiebe]

Merry Christmas A!!!
Lots of love to you :D

[AndreaWiebe]

Merry Christmas A :D
Lots of love to you!!!!!

[jodie]

that place looks and sounds so amazing.
and wow thanks for sharing that story on your blog, what a terrifying thing to happen.
i totally believe in ghosts and have experienced one, at my parents home, which is haunted by a man who hung himself in the downstairs room about 15 years before they moved in...my mum ALWAYS sees/hears/smells/scences it also. so glad i dont live there now haha.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, have fun on that wii!!!!

xxx

[Corien vd Oever]

The Album looks great A, I can't even remember where you took al those pics. Miss you XXX

[lisa]

The album looks fabulous - and you getaway sounds fun and relaxing!

[Cheryl Sue]

I totally believe in ghosts too. Your story was pretty darn creepy and I can see why you might have blocked so much of it out!

Anyways, love reading your blog. Great photos you took!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

[Fauve]

Looks like a spooky house girl!And i am so with you about the ghosts.I even made a layout about it here:http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=40875&user_id=178

Its about me being so scared to be alone at home and when i think about only seeying something i am scared for weeks!Its almost like some kind of fobia...Really frustrating i can tell ya!

The pictures are stunning though,and i luv the hummingbird!

Your mini looks so fab and its so you!!Those colors are just plain eyecandy!

Luve ya sweets,Happy Holidays!

[corinne delis]

I totally believe in ghost as well and also have a frightning experience as well as a child. I also couldn't remeber what it was, only have known all my life that I was deadly afraid of ghost, just like you. When I was in my twenties I remebered while I was hinking hard about the fact why i was so afraid of ghosts. I than say myself in my bedroom as a child and I saw faces coming out my wall. not dark ones like you saw just faces and it scared the shit out of me. Since that I have always slept with my head under the blanket even if it was very warm in the summer, jusy had a little hole to breath trhough hehe. I am so not afraid of ghost anymore, since i learnt how to love them and I believe the darker ones will not come near to me. I won't let them.
merry x-mas my friend, I love your mini-album btw!

corinnexxx

[Nancy J Doren]

sheez, your story creeps me out. I get scared easily; there is ALWAYS at least one light on in my house.

I believe in ghosts, not because I have seen one, but because many people that I know and trust have seen one. Hope I never do!

Have a good Christmas!