This face in the window is of what we believe to be that of past librarian, Myrtle, captured by the hauntedyoudecide team "H.Y.D.R.S." during a late evening investigation of the Onawa Public Library in Onawa, Iowa where the ghost of Myrtle is believed to be haunting the library. For complete information of our investigation please go to: TheFullStory (Hold down shift key and click on link).
Well the next question begs, what's a ghost? And quite frankly, the answer is incredibly simple...it's a dead person. So why would you be any more afraid of a dead person than you are a living one? Okay, I know, I sound pretty brave and I have to admit that when I get patted on the shoulder or butt by one I have been known to holler and jump a couple feet in the air. But that's mostly because it just takes you by surprise.
But is there really anything to fear. No, no, no! Just because you can't see a ghost, it doesn't mean you have any reason to be afraid and if you have one and he/she is bothering you, just ask them to stop, reason with them, and explain that not being able to see them is the most uncomfortable part. Invite them into a friendship with you, and a camaraderie, because the truth is that if you have a ghost it's really only because they like the place they're in as much as you do.
I suppose the next logical question is about "evil" and though this is a longer conversation I don't believe in true evil, in other words, a form of energy which could just be called that. This is a really important distinction. Growing up my family lived in two haunted homes, the first was benign, an older lady who'd owned and built the house, and the second bordered a grave yard...if that tells you anything. That was the scary one. There the ghost or ghosts broke appliances, sat on my bed, blew out candles and was generally "mischievous". To some this activity could certainly be considered scary but in retrospect I actually feel these things were done in humor. The short version is that in my view it probably has a lot more to do with perception than reality. Now, are there "evil" people, well sure. We don't have to look very hard through history to know that and I suspect there are some characters who come to mind right off the bat you definitely wouldn't want living in the same home with you. They were evil people, so why wouldn't they be evil ghosts? And within that definition, I'd have to agree to the use of evil.
But are these spirits to be feared? Hmmm, only because of their attitudes but not really because of their ability to hurt you. In fact, there are ways to hurt them should their behavior get out of control but I'll save that for another entry. So I guess my conclusion is that in the vast majority of cases you have nothing to fear but fear itself and, I think, ghosts can make an otherwise typical house experience exciting. After all, these are energies with personality, frustrations, intelligence and humor and by in large I've had the most success by simply dealing with them the way I would anyone else who lives in my house. Pat me on the butt and I'll swing around and chase you. Talk to me and I'll talk back. Moan and carry on like a ghost, and I'll moan right back at you. To be completely candid, now that I understand ghosts as I do I've learned to have fun with them, crack jokes, and tell them when they're getting on my last nerve! There is always the pan and spoon approach if it comes right down to it...but that's another entry too.
