Since I am comparatively young (32) I rarely think about death, or the implications of dying, or even why I am “here”. I just saw something on TV talking about ghosts and the facts - 44% of Americans don’t believe in ghosts, but 48% do - interesting, no? At first I thought about laughing about it, but then I realized I’m one of the 48%. Allow me to elaborate…

My parents’ home in England is an oldish one by American standards, not necessarily by English standards though - it was built in the 1880’s I believe. It has been added to since but still retains the original shell and layout. I grew up there from the age of 10 or so.

But twice in the time I spent there, and always when I was alone in the house, I felt something strange. You know that feeling, the hairs on the back of your neck rise (quickly), a shiver comes over you for no reason, and you feel drawn to something. Perhaps it is similar to battle sense, the feeling that something is going to happen, present more in some of us, less in others.

In my case the first time was sitting at the kitchen table, eating dinner and suddenly I felt as though someone were looking at me from the kitchen door. More specifically, from the top of the kitchen door, as though something were floating there. It was a very disconcerting feeling, I felt totally frozen all over and felt scrutinized, someone’s eyes piercing through me.

I thought nothing of it though, it was just something about being human perhaps, senses that we no longer use being civilized beings. Maybe it just a evolutionary hangover from caveman days? A chill rushing through you when temperatures change maybe? It was nearing winter anyway.

But the second time it happened, it really freaked me out. The bathroom is opposite my room in that house, and I was alone again. I was sitting in the bath, the bathroom door wide open so I could hear the stereo in my room. Suddenly that same feeling washed over me; I was sitting in hot water remember, steaming almost, and as if someone had dumped ice cubes in the bath, a freezing feeling rushed over me, and my attention was immediately yanked to the door, and specifically, the top of the door, the doorframe. It really spooked me I know that for sure, and despite being in hot water my hair was standing on end, and this had nothing to do with the weather this time, it was summer.

That was the only two times I have felt something in that house. It wasn’t threatening though, nothing flew across the room or moved. It was as if someone was watching me. I didn’t “see” anything, no shapes, no ghostly outlines or anything like that. I haven’t really thought about it much since, it was an experience and nothing more. I don’t think it taught me anything and I don’t think it affected how I look at life or the Universe etc.,