Grampa Is Still There

A few months ago my nephew's father in-law Dan died in his sleep. Out of respect for the family I will be changing names.

After my nephew Tim was discharged from the military he could not find a job. So he, his wife Carrie and 2 young daughters, not quite 2 year old Grace and newborn Sara, moved from North Carolina back to N.Y. They moved in with Carrie's parents, Dan and Rita. This worked out well because they were empty nesters, as Carrie's sisters were married and have their own families.

When my nephew called 911 the operator insisted that he perform CPR. Carrie was screaming into the phone that her father was already gone.

A few weeks later the older daughter started talking to someone who wasn't there. When Rita and Carrie asked her who she was talking to, Grace replied grampa. At first they thought Grace just missed Dan and said she was talking to phantom grampa.

Then things started happening. Dan's radio would turn on for no reason. One day Carrie was alone with the little ones and had to go check on them so she just tossed the towel she had on the back of the chair and left the room. When she returned she found the towel neatly folded on the counter.

This was all related to me by my sister Elaine. She told me that Carrie gets freaked out by these experiences and calls her to come over if there is nobody home with her. I told Elaine to tell Carrie, Tim, and Rita to just talk to Dan as if he was there and maybe things would calm down. I can't talk to Carrie or Tim directly because of something that happened years ago and they don't like me.

I hadn't heard anything about this for weeks. Until last week when I was talking to Elaine and she told me weird things keep happening but don't want anyone to know. I don't know if Dan visits Carrie's sisters because Elaine doesn't even know.

So we were chatting about Dan and Rita and Elaine was telling me how when Dan was alive they were becoming known as the Bickersons. I didn't know the couple so I said they seemed nice. Without thinking, Elaine replied, "Try taking a 5 hour car trip with them." I started laughing and she asked me why. I replied, "Well I can't now unless he decided to come along and Rita just started to argue with his astral self."

I imagine Dan is sticking around to watch over everyone, especially his granddaughters. He was only in his mid 60's. Maybe he is waiting for his wife to join him in the afterlife before he crosses over. That should be a long wait because Rita is in her mid 50's.

Tim had been working hard to save money so he and Carrie could buy their own house up here, but Rita asked them to stay with her. I don't know if it's because she wants to be near the babies or if she is afraid of the strange goings on.