Friday, December 4, 2009

Phantom of the Inn...Would You Believe It?


Do you believe in ghosts? (Besides the Holy one, I mean.)
If you asked me, I'd say, "Of course not," but I still might check behind the shower curtain when nobody's looking. (I'd be more worried about Norman Bates than any of Casper's relatives.)

After all, everybody knows that ghosts only show up in Scooby Doo mysteries, and then they're not really ghosts at all but the work of mentally deranged innkeepers who would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids.

I've always assumed that ghosts and ghost busters are only in the movies (along with the Stay Puft marshmallow man.) People see what they want to see, don't they?
But then my completely sane husband came home yesterday from a business trip to Nova Scotia with a story that's rattled me a bit.
See what you think.

Whenever Todd goes to Nova Scotia, the Michelin travel people reserve him a room at the Blomidon Inn, the local bed and breakfast pictured in the Courier & Ives scene above. I should tell you that my husband is not really a B&B kind of guy. He'd rather have a big TV in the room than rocking chairs on the porch, and he doesn't cotton to sitting with a table full of stranger ladies for tea. We did B&B's plenty in France, and it was a lovely way to spend a vacation once we got used to it, but when he works? Not so much.
When he works, he wants to work, sleep, then repeat. So he just ignores the doilies. It's always worked out fine.

And why shouldn't it be fine?
Look at the beautiful rooms!

The place is full of gorgeous antiques, big fluffy beds that require a step stool...


Tons of mahoghany and teak...


Flickr photo by west.advocate
And plenty of old paintings with googly eyes that follow you all around, just like in Scooby Doo. (Do you see a pattern here?)
Check out the eyes in the painting above. Those belong to Captain Burgess, the wealthy sea captain and ship builder who built the stately Victorian as a home for his family.

"I felt uneasy the whole night," Todd told me. "I know it sounds crazy, but it felt like somebody else was in the room. I hardly slept."
If you know my husband, then you know that he's built like a football player and is very brave. (Except for the time years ago when we heard a noise in the garage and he threw me out in front of him when he opened the door. But I promised I wouldn't bring that up again.)
He flipped channels and dozed on and off, all night long.

So the next morning at the factory, he told a coworker about his rough night. The coworker wasn't surprised one bit, and shared a couple stories of his own. One involved a mutual friend of theirs (a PhD chemist, if that helps you believe it.) She stayed in Captain Burgess' room on her last business trip and woke up around 3 am to find Captain Burgess standing at the foot of the bed!
"Why are you in my bed?" the image asked her.
She promptly threw her things in a suitcase, ran to her rental car, and checked into a different hotel.

Crazy, huh? A waitress at the inn said it happens all the time.
What do you think? Do you believe it, or should we track down the innkeeper and check for a mask?

Have a great weekend, y'all!
Love, Becky
PS. Now I can't stop thinking about this...

17 comments:

lotusgirl said...

Whoa. I think kind of like you, but it's hard to deny that there seems to be something fishy going on up there. Maybe we should send Scooby up to see if he (Velma really) can sort it all out.

Anonymous said...

Spooooooky. I wouldn't stay there--even though it looks so gorgeous. Anything ghosty sort of freaks me out. Epsecially when I'm sleeping.

Rosemary said...

That is a cool story! I do believe.
I watch all of the paranormal shows. I think there is something we just don't know about.
Love Scooby by the way!!
Happy Weekend,
Rosemary

R and L said...

Kind of creepy isn't it? Trickeration I say!
But then again sometimes when you're alone, locked in a place like that, your mind can wander, get worried, wonder how many people have slept in that room that are now dead, and may actually be souls in a 5th dimension, here, there, maybe everywhere - watching us! Think about that old, old furniture in all the rooms of that house - when you touch it - imagine all the others that have touched it - like 150 yrs ago or more !!!
I DO believe in the paranormal, from a scientific point of view. Not the sensational type often seen on TV documentaries.
Todd - skip the tea at the B&B's from now on. Our weird experience in Nova Scotia ended with us leaving after 1 night instead of 2. I'll have to email you about that experience sometime!
Randy

May Vanderbilt said...

I'm just like you! I don't technically believe in ghosts, but then...I have been known to get freaked out!

steve said...

Creepy!

But I know the real reason why you check behind the shower curtain!

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

judy in ky said...

I am one who believes just about anything is possible. My rational mind says "no ghosts" but several people in my family have had spooky experiences, enough that it has made me stop and think... and wonder.

Diane said...

Hi Becky, I just found your blog, and I love this story, and I do believe that there's something else going on, but we just can't 'see' it. Diane

Barb said...

Hi Becky,
That is freaky. I don't think I would be staying there again. Todd may be better off sleeping in his car.

Have a blessed weekend and keep those lights on.

big hugs,
Barb

Rebecca Ramsey said...

I agree Barb: freaky! I don't spend much time pondering this--there are too many other things to think about--but it's one of my many questions I hope to have answered one day!
From now on I'm going to suggest Todd drive to a chain hotel. The good night's sleep would be worth the driving time.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

PS. Welcome to the blog, Diane!
And Steve, see how your childhood pranks traumatized me?! :)

CC said...

nah, just track down the innkeeper and ask for a refund fora "bad night's sleep". ;)

vicki archer said...

Spooky.....in a charming kind of way, xv.

LW said...

I am a believer …

Louise

Unknown said...

First, what a beautiful place to stay!

Second, I wish I had read your post earlier in the day instead of just before bedtime. If I don't sleep tonight, it's the fault of Captain Burgess.

Unknown said...

I totally believe in ghosts! I think our apartment is haunted, too. My stepson kept telling me about "the man" he saw in the house. I asked him if he was a nice ghost or a mean one, and he said he was nice, so I guess we're good. Crazy!

sanjeet said...

we should send Scooby up to see if he (Velma really) can sort it all out.

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