Your True Tales
May 2008 - Page 9

Decorator Ghost
by Andrea

I live in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is one of the three major cities in South Dakota. My husband and I moved here to be near his family as we are both getting older. Last Christmas his dear mother died after living 92 years. A dear lady and she is sorely missed. His sister lives in a town about 80 miles from us, called Mobridge, where his mother lived for a long time before she passed away.

After long deliberation, we decided to move there to buy a house, as the town is quiet and clean, smaller and more intimate. We wanted to be around his sister more. By a weird coincidence, we found the perfect home, built around 1910, but well cared for, updated, just perfect for our needs. We weren't going to look at the house; it has a rental on top, so we didn't even consider it, but for some reason, I looked back over the list the day we were going to go back home. I felt compelled to look at it, not curious, absolutely compelled.

It was a Sunday. The realtor lives across the street from his sister where we were staying. I walked over and asked if it would be convenient to show us the property. He said certainly; he had thought about showing it, but didn't think we would be interested. The house is so well maintained, I couldn't believe it was that old.

The moment we walked in, I knew this house. I don't know how else to explain it. We walked through the whole house and I knew exactly where the rooms were, although I seemed surprised at the basement. It has been turned into a large den. This house was so familiar, I commented to my husband very matter-of-factly that the kitchen was backward. He looked at me like I was having a senior moment. Just then, the realtor said the woman turned the kitchen in remodeling, where everything is on the other side, the sink used to be where the window was, etc. I thought: How did I know that? Of course, I don't know, I just knew.

My husband went out to look at the grounds, garages, etc. and I stayed in the house with this feeling of having owned this house before. I thought how odd that was, I didn't grow up anywhere near this area and only been to the state as a kid to see Mt. Rushmore. I have been over to measure the rooms, windows, for preparing to move in several times. Each time, I felt like I was home, more than just liking the house, it is a real feeling of belonging.

When I started decided how to decorate the house, I found myself picking things that I would not pick, like chandeliers, Victorian-type furniture, dark woods, which I used to hate. I know that I lived here,. I constantly have the feeling of knowing where things should be.

Last weekend I went to measure the large picture windows to have drapes made. I was alone in the house, absorbed in my work. All of a sudden, I turned around with a start, like someone just walked in on me. Standing about ten feet from me was a woman, small, delicate features, her hair and clothing from around 1910. I wasn't frightened. I have seen spirits and had experiences before. She smiled and as clear as anything said, "Please pick velvet drapes. Velvet is perfect."

I was unnerved by this, suddenly realizing this woman was dead, a spirit. I have seen a few other spirits, but never one so solid, so real. I turned for a moment to look at the door, as if to expect it open after someone came in. It was still locked tight. I turned back, after a fleeting second, she was gone. Just as quickly as she was there. I would never pick that kind of window treatment; I don't even like drapes.

I did some reading of records that afternoon on the house's history. That was one of the first homes built there, and it is older than we thought. Mobridge became a town 100 years ago last year. That makes it 20 years older than I thought. The apartment upstairs used to be just a loft room, but was remodeled in the 1960s into a full apartment.

We move in next month. I am a little concerned that this "woman" is me from another life. I believe whole heartedly in reincarnation. I would like to have an investigator come and see if we can contact this spirit, to see what it wants. In this area, I haven't found anyone who deals with hauntings, or the paranormal. If anyone knows who I can contact, I would appreciate any feedback. I am used to paranormal experiences, but not this real or familiar. I will be interesting to see what happens when we move in. This experience is absolutely the truth, I know some people would say it is very unusual to have a full-bodied apparition like this, almost flesh. I swear this is true.

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