Ghosts, Do You Believe?

Last night two friends from school and I went for a drink after class. Sweet tea with a bowl of lemons is my poison. One friend asked me if I had any encounters with ghosts. I said I didn't believe in ghosts, then I proceeded with my story...

My mother and Uncle Guice died six months apart the year I was 19. Still the worse year of my life. I never dreamed about them for years, but...My mother would come stand in my doorway every night about 3:00 or 3:30 and smoke a cigarette. I would sit up in bed, smoke a cigarette with her and we would have these short, wonderful conversations. For about two years I would wake up around 3:00 o'clock smelling smoke. I never saw my mother or smoke, but it seemed like she was visiting me.

Then, when Freddy and I were dating, my aunt didn't want me to marry him. He had two children and yegads! lived in a trailer. She thought he would have to pay child support for years and that he wasn't good enough for me. I had the concern that he had two boys, but not about taking care of me or the boys. The mattress was worn and I was sleeping on an air mattress on top of the old mattress. One night I woke up and I smelled cigarette smoke and heard my mother say as plain as day, "It'll be alright, Sis." When I got up I turned on the light and there was smoke in the air and an imprint on the mattress that looked as if someone had been sitting on it! Keep in mind it's hard to make an impression on an air mattress. I was at peace and nearly twenty-eight years later I am still married to the most wonderful man in the world. By the way, my aunt loves him now and I think she thinks it might just work out.

Still, I don't believe in ghosts! My mother and I were so close that I think on some plane she is still looking out for me. How is that? I don't know, the mind is not always rational.

I have dreamed of Uncle Guice and mother many times the last few years and they have all been good dreams. When I wake up it's almost like I had a visit with them. I am sure that if there is an afterlife, that my Uncle Guice is proud of me because I went back to school and my mother is proud of me because I have a happy life.