When You Don’t Believe in Ghosts

Summary

The author recounts three personal experiences with unexplained phenomena that challenge their skepticism about ghosts.

Abstract

The article titled "When You Don’t Believe in Ghosts — But Do" delves into the author's ambiguous stance on the supernatural. Despite not subscribing to the traditional notion of ghosts, the author admits to witnessing three inexplicable events that have left them questioning the existence of something beyond our understanding. The first event involved a drawer that mysteriously closed on its own at the author's cousin's house. The second occurred in a converted old house where the author heard distinct footsteps in an empty hallway. The third and most vivid experience was the sighting of an indistinct grayish figure peeking around an archway in the author's condo. Each incident has contributed to the author's openness to the possibility of unexplained presences, though they remain cautious about labeling these experiences as definitive ghost encounters.

Opinions

The author does not believe in the conventional idea of ghosts that manifest with a "BOO!" but acknowledges the possibility of an unknown entity or presence.
The author values direct experience and witness testimony, as evidenced by their recounting of personal anecdotes and the impact these events had on their beliefs.
There is a sense of wonder and curiosity in the author's tone, rather than fear or skepticism, when describing the unexplained occurrences.
The author seems to differentiate between tricks of the mind or eyes and genuine paranormal experiences, suggesting a level of discernment in their interpretation of events.
Despite the unsettling nature of the experiences, the author appears to be more intrigued than disturbed by the possibility of the supernatural, as indicated by their rhetorical question about why such events happen to them.

First occurrence — the closing drawer

When I was around 13 or so, I was at my cousin’s house overnight. He was putting laundry his mom did back in dresser drawers. He opened the drawer and turned around to take clothes off the bed and when he turned back, the drawer was closed.

He looked at me with his mouth open and a shocked look on his face. I was in the room and so I was a witness to this. I did not see the movement as I was looking at him picking up the clothes and I was not looking at the drawer.

Second occurrence — the steps in the hall

When I worked as a programmer for a company, we used to have to put in extra hours at times when we had big projects. The building was in an area where they changed older houses into business offices. This was on the main street of an older part of town just past the rows of stores.

The upstairs had small rooms that were made into offices that still had the original floors and walls. The hallway floor was made of wood and would creak loudly when anyone walked on it. I was in my office after hours one night after dark by myself working on a program. An hour or so after everyone left, I heard someone was walking in the hallway towards my office.

I said, “Okay Bob, what did you forget?” There was no answer. I asked again and still more silence. I got up and looked down the hallway and no one was there. I called out in case they went downstairs but no one was in the building.

This was not a creaking floor where the house was settling. This was a distinct step, step, step, getting louder as it neared the office door. Had my heart racing on this one.

Third occurrence — the shape looking around the corner

The condo we live in now is around 25 or so years old. It is in a four-story building with 10 units on each floor. We have a den that we turned into an office for my wife and me. I was working into the evening when my wife decided to retire for the night.

Sitting at my desk, I look towards the doorway which is an archway. When working on the computer, I look up from the monitor/keyboard and refocus my eyes on something far. I also do that when I am thinking about something related to what I am doing.

I looked up at the archway where the next room was dark and I saw a form or figure peek around the wall into the room looking at me, then moving back behind the wall. It was where someone was next to the opening and just leaned the top half of the body into the opening.

This happened in about a second or two which seems like a short time, but that is plenty of time to make out a particular shape which was that of a person. It surprised me but then I thought that it looked like it was a grayish color without facial features and made me wonder what it was.

I then called my wife’s name and no response, no sound. I called again. I got up from my desk walked to the archway and looked to the right where the figure looked at me. Nothing. I then continued right and went to our bedroom to ask my wife if she got up and was looking for me. But she was sound asleep. More chills that night.

After these events, do I believe in ghosts?

I still don’t know the answer to that as I am not sure of the three events. I do know it wasn’t a trick of the mind or the eyes. I do think there is something out there, just not sure if I can label it as ghost encounters.

Oh, did I mention the time I saw a UFO? No, no, no green men, but something flew over very low that I can’t explain. Ghosts and UFO sightings. Why me???