"History is like a ghost, it is as dead as alive"
Almost everyone has a ghost story of some sort, either a personal encounter or a re-tell of a friend's tale.
I am a believer in ghosts, like my father (and his father before him), I have had several encounters over the years as they walk/float/interact amongst us. My recent run-in with a ghost was this past Friday, and thus begins my latest adventure of "Ghosts & Treasures"...
In the heart of Amherst, Nova Scotia (pronounced with a silent "h", unless you want to peg yourself as a "tourist") in a century plus old Manson (see pic below), live two dear friends Shiela and Ralf (whom I fondly call Momma Bear & DeNiro). Both are rare treasures, their manor filled with their whimsical and unique antique finds, a magical double-whammy of treasures await you when you visit. However the whammies do not end there...it is a house full of triple-whammy ghosts that float along side as you peek from room to room filled with treasure after treasure.
It was an honour to spend an evening filled with laughter, games, gourmet vegetarian food, treasure finding and ghosts with Momma Bear & DeNiro.
I can relate to Momma Bear. If I had followed my eclectic whims in life, instead of conforming to a non cluttered living environment, I would be her, an avid collector of all things from the past. My cross stitch collection (both my own work and pieces found in garage sales) hang proudly in my parent's basement, my shadow box collection of little antique treasures found from my world travels are all displayed, along with my albums, record players, eight track players and traditional artwork. Come to think of it, my parent's basement looks a little like Momma Bear and DeNiro's entire house. In the world I ended up in, pursuing contemporary modern art, simplicity and straight lines rule the day, there is no room for antique treasures or my traditional artwork in my home life. So in the basement of my parent's home in Oakville, half way across the country, my treasures live a rather neglected life. When visiting my Mom and Dad, they beg me to start getting rid of some of my so called "treasures". Each time, walking down into the depths of their basement to tackle the task, amongst my treasured finds, are ghosts from the past that have come along with the nicknacks I have gathered over the years. All the ghosts down in the basement are friendly in nature (the little antique treasures I was attracted to in my travels always had a good feel/vibe to them, they spoke to me with a gentle whisper and made me smile). Yet somehow I always leave empty handed, and over the years have dumped more treasured finds off in Mom and Dad's basement each time I visit versus taking the nicknacks back to Vancouver with me (ten steps ahead, 20 steps back).
Last week, as I wandered room after room, filled with Momma Bear's antique collection in her manor in Amherst, it was clear to me that the antique treasures she housed spoke to her in the same manner as my mini collection had to me, thus how they found a home with this very special lady. Must admit I did get lost in memories in her marvelous collection (reminded me of my own shadow box antique gathering, however her collection was on steroids in each and every room of her Manson). As I wandered about, a tiny doll caught my attention, something gently whispered in my head "have a closer look" and as I did, completely out of thin air I heard (and felt) a very light object drop at my feet. With Momma Bear as my witness. I gently stooped to pick it up, a little 3" x 2" (very light in weight) piece of wood (which she had never seen before and it did NOT match any of the wooden objects she owned, impossible for it to have fallen off anything nearby). As I bent down, picking up the object that had dropped at my feet, I felt a gentle breeze whiz by me, not a bad spirit in any way, a playful spirit. I calmly looked at Momma Bear and said " you know you have ghosts here". She looked at me, just as calmly and said "I know" and proceeded to tell me of all the wonderful encounters over her decade of owning the Manson, which is full of a rich history. She feels the ghosts are a part of the house (owners and servants of the past) however the ghost that I encountered I am 100 percent certain (without a doubt) came in from one her treasures. I personally think it was a child (owner of the doll) or the maker, or the muse that was leveraged for the doll. Momma Bear is leaving the wood chip out on the spindle wheel (that holds the doll) to see if the ghost shall return for it. I personally think the child/maker/muse wanted to play with me, and the wood chip will be there until I return.
Momma Bear, if you are reading this, and the mysterious wooden piece is still there in a few months, me thinks the ghost wants me to have it. I have an idea for a painting I am going to start when we return to BC, would love to incorporate it into the piece of art I will be tackling next. If you are willing to part with the mysterious piece of wood, you know where to find me after JDog and I are done our North American tour.
For a small peak inside some of Moma Bear and DeNiro's massive collection, I have attached a collection of pics (some of my favourite finds wondering through her extensive collection, there is even whole room devoted to Toy Story memorabilia) for your viewing pleasure.
Thanks Momma Bear and DeNiro for bringing smiles and the touches of magical antiques back into my life. My parents will be pleased to hear after years of telling me to take my stuff out of their basement, you have given me the incentive to take action and as a first step to get my shadow box of antiques back to where they belong, with me!
And so folks, this Halloween, a reminder to tread lightly tonight, ghosts are out there, both good and bad...stay clear of the evil ones, and humour the light hearted ones. Perhaps leave a candy or two out for them, you may be surprised at what happens!
Peace Out
xo
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