Everyone welcome my good buddy and awesome author, Selena Robins, as she gives us a great story that I think works right into Halloween…even if she doesn’t like Halloween. 
Take it away Selena!
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“Life is like a snow globe; often it’s prettiest after it’s been turned upside-down.”
I love snow globes. I have an embarrassing collection of them, from Christmas themed ones to Christopher Robin and Winnie the Poo to the Phantom of the Opera, and ones that I collect during my travels, portraying a landmark of that particular city.
There is something soothing about looking at a snow globe, after turning it upside down. There is also something magical about one particular snow globe that my brother-in-law gifted me many years ago.
First let me tell you that I am a skeptic when it comes to ghosts and basically most paranormal activity and discussions, but I do keep an open mind and have enjoyed the many stories shared here on Denise’s blog.
When Denise asked me to share something to go along with her Halloween spooky/ghost story theme blog posts this month, I wasn’t sure if what happened in our household with this little snow globe would fit into these theme. Reason being; I don’t particularly care for Halloween. I’m not a pumpkin Grinch or anything (well, not anymore) and I do give out candy, and love to see small children in costumes, but I don’t decorate like mad, nor do I dress up, nor do I put on spooky music or watch horror flicks.
I’m going to share something that happened to us with regard to one of my snow globes, that to this day, I’m still unsure what was really going on.
My brother-in-law (husband’s younger brother) bought me this Santa Claus snow globe because he knew how much I love Christmas and decorating for this beautiful holiday. This snow globe has a music box inside it, but only plays a tune if you turn it upside down and crank it.
I put it out at Christmas time as part of my decorations and instead of putting it away, I decided to keep it in my curio cabinet even after Christmas, as it would remind me of my brother-in-law, who was struggling with cancer at the time and knew that he wouldn’t be with us for much longer.
Four months later, my brother-in-law passed away. On the day of his funeral, I was in the sitting room alone, waiting for my husband to finish getting ready and I heard a tune coming from the curio cabinet. I dismissed it, thinking it was my imagination and never mentioned it.
After his funeral, each time I would enter the room, the snow globe’s music box would kick in. I really thought I was imagining it, but decided to tell my husband. He checked to see if the crank at the bottom of it was stuck, but it wasn’t.
Since the curio cabinet is placed near a window, we both decided that it must be the sunshine giving it energy and making it the music box go off, however, that didn’t make sense since it needed to be cranked. As you can see, we’re both a bit skeptical when it comes to paranormal activity.
The music went off one night. No sunshine. So there went our theory about light giving it energy.
My husband at this point was convinced that it was his brother’s way of saying hello to us. Because we are all grieving deeply, I went along with it. Still not convinced.
We told his parents about it, and it brought them so much joy when my husband told him his theory, that I decided, yes, I will go along with that as well. And then thought; if my brother-in-law is around here saying hi, I hope he is turning his back when I take a shower. He had a great sense of humor, he totally got mine and besides his loving nature, that is one of the things I miss the most.
He did tell me before he died that he would come back and haunt me if I didn’t bake him his favorite cookies and muffins while he was in the hospital. I would joke back and say, don’t you dare look at me when I’m getting undressed or getting jiggy with your brother. Of course that made him want to hurl, because siblings making out is as bad as picturing your parents making out. We laughed a lot during his last days, and you know what, that’s how I would want my last days also. Teasing, laughing and joking and probably playing a prank or two if I could manage it.
His parents were convinced it was his mischievous side reaching out from Heaven.
Since I knew this brought my mother and father-in-law so much happiness, I wrapped it up and gave it to them as a gift, with a note that said: “Crank me up, when you miss me.”
They were appreciative and took great care of the snow globe, and it would go off on its own at their house as well, and they felt their son was really close by.
I slowly came to realize, that perhaps he was beaming down some of his energy into that snow globe and it was his way of saying hello to us all and also pulling a prank on me, knowing that I would be trying to figure out what was really going on.
My in-laws both passed away a few years later and the snow globe came back home with us. It sits in our cabinet once again, but it has never played another tune. I cranked it, shook it, and still no music.
The three of them are all together now, so perhaps the music stopped to let us know, they’re doing fine.
I miss you and love you all, and please if you’re around, just don’t peek when I’m taking a shower. Even though I really don’t believe you can see us, or maybe you can. Wherever you are, I know you’re happy and I will give out your favorite chocolates this Halloween in your honor.
Tags: Christmas, ghosts, Halloween, Selena Robins, snow globes
What a wonderful story. I do believe our loved ones come back to let us know they are okay.
Hi, Rita, thanks for stopping by. My husband says the same thing as you, and I would like to believe that as well, just not sure how much they can actually see, hear, etc. I do think there is some sort of sign, but sometimes I wonder if wanting to connect with them so much is making things happen? I know, I’m so skeptical, however, the comfort this globe has given us and still does, is a gift.
Your story brought tears to my eyes. So touching. I know some people wouldn’t believe in that stuff, but I do. During my mother’s wake a few years ago, we noticed a large brown rabbit staring in the picture window of the funeral home. He stayed there for a long time. A few weeks later it was her birthday, and I was standing in my garden thinking about her, and I saw another bunny come out of the bushes. It was then I started to make the connection … since my mother’s nickname was ‘Bunny’.
Now whenever I see a bunny I know it’s her checking up on me =)
I’m not a huge believer in paranormal ” ghost” stories, but this one I believe! It is so beautiful and comforting , it has to be true. I hope if we have ghosts in our lives, they are for comfort. I had a similar experience when my Dad passed away, something unexplainable but it happened!
Thanks you Denise, and Selena .Selena is this snow globe connected to Sabrina? Hope so!
Oh, that was the sweetest not so scary story ever. Although I’ve never had it happen to me, I do believe anything is possible. Nancy, your story is also sweet. Our uncle’s wife lost her grown son to suicide a few years back and she has always had a thing about butterflies, one landed on her at his funeral service and another time when she was having a bad day one landed on her moving car and stayed there until she felt better and ever since she has had many encounters. I just have to believe there is something to all these stories.
[...] I’m visiting fellow author, Denise Agnew on her blog, discussing my one and only encounter with paranormal [...]
Hey there, Selena! Thanks for being on my blog today. Great story and very touching!
Wonderful post, Selena! Skeptic or not, what a beautiful comforting thought. I, for one, believe it was your brother-in-law and that, as you said, the globe no longer sounds because his family has been somewhat reunited. Just beautiful. Loved reading this. Denise- lovely blog too!
Nancy and Catslady, thank you both for dropping by and sharing your stories. While writing this blog post, I did shed some tears and Nancy and Denise will be surprised to hear that I wrote it without going back to edit, polish and do my obsessive thing that I do when I write. I just wrote it all out from my heart.
Both your stories are so touching as well, and perhaps there is something to all this.
You are most welcome, Denise and I’m honored to be part of your blog, especially since you know we don’t agree on Horror movies or Halloween. LOL
Glad you enjoyed the blog post.
I see no reason to be skeptical about things like that, Selena. If it brings someone peace and comfort, isn’t that enough to believe? Well…except for the shower thing. lol! At the very least, I choose to view things like that as the Universe taking care of us.
Hi, PG, thanks for dropping by and for your thoughts.
Yes it is comforting, I’m just by nature question a lot of things and want to know the answers. Things need to make sense in my head, even though things that make sense to me, may not make sense to others.
I have selective skepticism. LOL I do believe it was a nice message, and at the same time, I do not believe in ghosts or that they can see us in all circumstances. That probably makes no sense, but in my head it does.
Selena, what a sweet story! It’s charming and heartwarming!
Oh what a touching story… thank you for sharing it with us.
Selena,
Lovely story. Yes, I believe that was your BIL.
Here is 1 story, I have a few, but maybe this will make you a beliver.
One night my DH had a dream about a good friend who had commited sucide a few years before. He told Dave his dad was in the hospital and that we needed to be there. ( we had not seen his dad for a few years due to unmentionable circumstances.) a few days later we received a phone call that his dad had had a heart attack the same day he had the dream and was in the hospital.
Hi, Pat, Rosanna, Grettel& Colleen, thank you all for stopping by. I’m happy to have been able to share this with you and I appreciate your kind words and comments and thoughts.
Whatever it was, it did bring us a lot of comfort and some laughter as well, as we remembered the fun times we had with his brother, whose sense of humor matched mine (the rest of the in-laws had a challenge on their hands when we got together LOL).
Pat, besides my love for snow globes, this experienced inspired Sabrina’s story. I think you can see the correlation.
Why I love snows globes:
Apparently, the only thing that would soothe me when I was a baby, was the music box in a small snow globe my mother had. When I was a bit older, she would let me turn it upside down and I would sit and be mesmerized at the snow falling, and my siblings told me that’s when they all got a moment of peace and quiet. I may have been a hyperactive toddler, but I doubt it, my siblings exaggerate.
Every birthday, Christmas, Easter, my family would give me a snow globe as a gift and I started to collect them. As a teenager, we had a house fire and lost everything, including my collection. But that’s okay, material things aren’t as important as our lives.
When my husband found about this, he bought me one when we were dating and that’s how my present collection started.
I guess there is a lot of memories attached to snow globes. Just an extra tid-bit about me.
Hope everyone is safe and warm, and sending prayers and good thoughts to all those who are challenged through this horrible hurricane and storms.
Denise, thanks again for inviting me to your blog.
Hi, CG, thanks for stopping by and sharing your story. The more people are telling me about these things, the more I am becoming a believer that those who have gone before us reach out in one way or another. Incredible story, thanks.
What a poignant story. I believe occurrences like the one you had with the snow globe are not just coincidences.