Today my wife and I got home about 6:00 pm from her store in Byesville. We entered the house by the western rear door into the kitchen. While my wife was throwing together our supper I went out the front door and got the paper which I carried to the kitchen. We hadn't even sat down to eat when we heard a terrific slam of a door somewhere in the house. All the doors to the outside are locked with either a deadbolt or slide bolt. The door on the upstairs porch on the westward side of the house has been known to blow open (I suppose it was windcaused) and it has happened even when we were sure it was locked.  That door was still shut and the slide bolt was in place. So what door slammed? We haven't figured that one out yet. Whether it has a logical explaination or not is not known at this time. But for any door to slam shut loud enough to be heard in the kitchen must have really been slammed hard. But no evidence of such an event is evident. Yes, the front door was bolted.

The store

We have experienced very little activity in the house so far this fall and winter. Abnormally quiet whereas this time of year is usually rather active. My wife's store which is located in a very old building in a small neighboring town, on the other hand, has taken on the strange. I think I've mentioned the murmering my wife says about drives her batty there. She plays the inhouse music to mask the murmering. I have to admit I have not heard the mermuring there although it did happen at our house a couple of times in the past. But this store has displayed human "illusions", "ghosts" or whatever to me twice. These are the first really strong impressions of people that I've encountered. My wife has had several episodes, through the years, in various places we have lived; but I only had very quick impressions before. The latest occurred today. We had the store open until 4pm for last minute Christmas shoppers. Around about 2 oclock in the afternoon I entered our backroom to get a drink from the small frige we have there (No it wasn't alcoholic). As I entered the backroom I saw, what I at first thought , was my wife; but the dress was all wrong and besides I had just left my wife at the cash register helping a customer. The woman was wearing a medium dark blouse and navy blue long skirt. She had a dark scarf on her head and was bending over and, I suppose, was looking at a basket of mixed merchandise. On  reflection she looked very much like an Amish lady. I did not see her face and she vanished before I could say anything. These things take place so suddenly that you really have no oppertunity to react to them other than think "What the heck did I just see?" Maybe my wife and I are cracking up. I'd hate to think so. But these experiences are so real, at the time, only the vanishing act distinguishes them as something other than normal. The red haired boy I saw in my fist such encounter last summer, I would recognize if I saw him again. He was that real looking and was facing toward me; whereas the dark lady, today, had her back in my dorection. I guess I'm just curious as to what the heck I'm actually seeing. I don't think she was a Christmas spirit, but it is Christmas eve.