Monday, January 31, 2011

A Night at The Lincoln Theater

The Lincoln Theater in Decatur, Illinois was having an overnight ghost hunting adventure from 9pm until 5am. When Vicky and Julie H. heard about it they called me to see if I would want to do this with them. Of course I was ready to join them in this experience.
We made our plans, bought equipment (I took 4 flashlights and extra batteries!) and had our coolers packed with snacks for the night. We were serious ghost hunters.
As we waited outside for the doors to open at 9 p.m. we watched as other ghost hunters showed up.
Giggily young girls...
 men with big expensive cameras... 
people with strange boxes...
and a couple dressed in camoflauge
(was that supposed to keep the ghost from seeing them???)
Around 50 people showed up.
First we went into the theater to hear what we were going to do.
As we waited Julie and I took some pictures.
My camera did something I had never ever seen before.
Red numbers kept flashing across the screen over and over.
Where did the numbers come from???
I use my camera a lot and have never seen numbers.
At the same time I could hear Julie saying, "That's strange,
my camera has never acted like that before!"
Hmm...is this going to be an interesting night?

We were split up into 4 groups.
There were four different areas that the groups rotated around in half an hour shifts. We were allowed to form our own opinions before they told us about the ghostly encounters of others.


First we went up to the highest level, the film room and balcony.
(A woman in 1920's clothing is seen sitting there)
We waited, we watched and listened...
for the ghost who likes to stomp on the catwalk,
for the woman who quietly sits.
Nothing..not even a Boo!

Next we went to the basement.
(Lots of voices heard down here)
It was this dark.
and I made Vicky sit in the darkest corner.
It did feel odd.
But still nothing happened...
Not even a Boo!

Next we moved in the basement to the dressing room. 
(Hair pulling in this room and clothing tugged)
Remember...it is this dark. (Taking pictures with a flash)
As we sit there a flashlight that we have laying on the counter
rolls quickly away from us...we swear..none of us touched it.
 We wait and watch for it to happen again...
Then once again..the flashlight went rolling
quickly from one spot to another! 
Hmm.., a boo??

Next we go backstage....where the spiral staircase is. 
(Footsteps cross the stage and go up the staircase.)
We wait, we listen, we go to the top of the staircase.
We didn't get to hear the footsteps...
nope...not a boo!
But one strange thing there was...

As the EMF lights up to say engery is near I take a picture and
above Julie is a cool orb.
Yes, sometimes I think orbs are dust particles..like left side.
But, other times they can be so clear, colorful and full of engery.

Our last group time was to go into the theater.
(ghost kicks the back of seats, seats go up and down, voices are heard)
We waited, we watched, we listened.
And you guessed it.... not even a boo!

Everyone came back to the theater to hear
 tales of others who had been there before.
Whispers, touching and being pushed to the floor.
Footsteps and visions and shadows and more.

But for us on this night it pretty quiet and calm.

Then they let all of us roam wherever we wanted.
At one point the 3 of us were on the stage behind the curtain
and someone else was in front and he had a radio voice detector. They said it would let a spirit pick up words it wanted to use. This guy was asking questions and it would spit out words.
We heard him ask "How many people are on this stage"
And it answered "3"
Hmm....he did not know we were there.
But did something else know?

Later in the basement with the box the question was asked.
 "Will you knock and let us know you are here?"
And it answered "No"
Another question for the voice box.
"How many are in this room?"
"2 men and 3 women" it answered correctly.
It had also said "kill video" and then the video batteries died.

Now that was interesting because that happened with us.

There was one girl who said she felt a cold breath on her face and a door slammed shut...but we don't believe her.
(In same room that our flashlight moved twice.)
And another girl in the dark dark basement room with us
felt it getting colder and colder and said
the shadows moved around her.
But.. how can you believe that??
(In same room that our flashight moved twice.)

We wanted to experience it for ourselves and be able to tell stories of ghost and things that say Boo!
We wanted to be able to say a ghost pushed Vicky out of her chair,
Or that a ghost wispered in Vicky's ear,
Or that a ghost scratched......Vicky.

and then you could say...
How can you believe....
Vicky

Julie


Or Sheryl

Those crazy ghost hunting girls.

BOO !!

If you want to do this they have another one in May.
May 13...Friday the 13th!
It cost $50 and that goes toward redoing the Lincoln Theater.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Today I Enjoyed.....

Today I relaxed, let go and was carried away...
I heard the patter of rain showers
I saw the pastel colors of a rainbow
I heard the roar of the ocean.
A warm blowing breeze flowed past me.
At the end I was told to "GO"
Go.... enjoy my day
Go.... enjoy my night
Go.... enjoy my life.

What
a
nice
moment
at
the
car
wash.
It's all in how you look at things.

I Love You All The Time

As I sat in church the first Sunday morning of 2011.
Love is on my heart.
Kayla is on my mind.
At 12 years old she is in pre-teen mode. 

A little girl changing........
                        into a young woman.
Mind and body are changing.......
                        with new understanding and more responsiblity.
Emotions and attitudes are changing....
                       quickly from one minute to the next.
It is at this time she needs reassured that she is loved.

On New Years Eve she was full of attitude. As I got ready to leave I ask her to come to say good-bye.
After the third time she finally came to me,
I hugged her and the words came out of my mouth...
"I love you.....all the time."

My mind takes me back to my sweet little Kayla.

I would say to her.....
"Grandma loves you all the time."
Those were special words between her and I.
Today I wonder...when did I stop saying
"I love you....all the time."

I still tell Kayla that I love her.... 
 but when did the "all the time" part stop.
How did that slip away and I hadn't even notice?

So as this new year starts
I am changing...
I am bringing back the old
"Grandma loves you...All The Time"

Kayla, you are beautiful.
You are amazing.
As your life changes.
I want you to know in your heart
that I still
Love You All The Time
and
I always will.
                   
Love, Grandma Sheryl