My Ghost-Hunting Boyfriend

This week my husband and I celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. Wild! Especially because for a long time I did not imagine myself ever getting married. I actually liked the idea of being the “crazy dog lady.” But Spirit, had another thing in store for me AND definitely had a hand in our getting together.

How did Spirit play a role? As you can imagine, it’s quite the story. He and I (and one of my besties) joke that to tell it right, you need the three of us and about two hours… we don’t have that, but here is my version of events!

It was the summer of 2007. My friends (the Chakra Sisters) and I were slated to do a presentation in Lily Dale. Excited about the opportunity, several of us decided to spend a few days prior to our class enjoying the Dale. We got tickets to hear John Zaffis, “the Godfather of Demonology;” attend the first annual Victorian Séance; and, participate in a ghost hunt in the historic Leolyn Hotel.

We got to Lily Dale early Saturday morning to hear John Zaffis. To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to this. I’ve always been a little turned off by ghost hunting… But, because my friends were going I thought why not.

Upon walking into the auditorium that morning, however, I began questioning my decision. Seated front and center were about a dozen individuals… each in a black shirt with the phrase “Got Ghosts?” This group was rowdy! They were hootin and hollerin… Yes… the ghost hunters were in the house… All I could think was GREAT this is why I don’t do ghost hunting. In my opinion, they were obnoxious.

Once John Zaffis started speaking, however, they quieted down and were very respectful. And despite my preconceived notions, I was impressed with Zaffis. As well as a ‘ghost hunter’ in the audience, a good-looking bald man of about fifty who asked insightful questions.

After the presentation, my friend picked up Zaffis’ book… but with the ghost hunters getting a little rowdy again, I hurried her along so we could take in the energy of the Dale.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we buzzed with excitement looking forward to the Victorian Séance.

When we arrived at the Séance that evening we found Lily Dale Registered mediums were doing flower readings, spoon bending and the group I was with were fortunate enough to get the medium who decided to do table tipping!!

If you haven’t seen table tipping, it is an amazing experience! And, the table that night did not disappoint. In fact, it went a little bonkers. Loved ones and guides were coming through left and right. In fact, they came through to give each of the sitters a message. Each one that is, except me.

That’s not exactly true, however. After each message, I heard in my third ear… “Dawn, if you don’t let us come in about romance, we aren’t coming in.” Well, I was not going to ask about romance... no siree. I wanted nothing to do with that.

Realizing Spirit wasn’t getting through my thick head, my guides start started prodding (did I mention my guides are bossy and pushy) my dear friend Amie to push me to ask about romance. Even with her nudging, I was not going to ask. Then the table went cold.

No message for me. And yes, I was a little disappointed… but, I stubbornly didn’t want to hear about romance so I decided perhaps it was for the best.

From there, Amie and I scooted over to the ghost hunt at the Leolyn Hotel. For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Leolyn is a hotel right outside the gates of Lily Dale. It is in limited use, however, because it has not yet been fully renovated after a fire ravaged it. So we were excited to get to see more of the hotel than normal.

However, soon as we walked in a pang of annoyance hit me… there again was a sea of black shirts. And yes, I know I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the ghost hunters again, but it still didn’t stop me from thinking… ‘do I REALLY want to be here?’ The hundred plus dollars I had already paid for the hunt ran through my head, and I grudgingly stuck around.

Then the ghost hunt commenced. We were given a quick tour and then taken into the old séance room. Two séances in one night? The annoyance fluttered away... maybe this was worth the cost!!

Once in the séance room, we were instructed to sit in a circle. As people made their way to their seats, the lights were turned off. It wasn’t dark in that space for long. Soon, the room was filled with people shouting “Flash” which was immediately followed by you guessed it, camera flashes.

This messed with my eyes, but fortunately it did not mess with Spirit communication. There were SEVERAL Spirits present and they wanted to make themselves known. I bit my tongue. Listening to Spirit yack away, but not saying much as I didn’t know if it was my place. It was then that a male voice boomed throughout the room. He spoke to the Spirits… and then I found myself speaking to them. Back and forth the two of us bounced. It was amazing.

This continued for about forty-five minutes. As the Spirits quieted down, it was decided we would try table tipping. It was like Christmas!! After one round, however, my friend and I decided to explore the hotel to see what feelings we got.

As we walked out into the hallway, we saw the sea of black shirts clumped in one direction. Not wanting to get caught up in that, I grabbed my friend’s arm and pulled her the other way. She didn’t mind, less people. We’d be more able to sense the energies.

Down the hall we went, stopping in one room after another. We’d snap a couple of photos. Talk about what we sensed. But, more than anything else, we soaked in the energy.

We soon realized, we were NOT alone. And, I don’t mean in the Spirit sense. One of the ghost hunters had peeled off from his group and was following us! It was a little creepy, but we soon found he was a nice man. But, I had my guard up and we really wanted to just take everything in… ALONE.

Well, Spirit obviously didn’t want me to be alone that night. We were interrupted again. While standing outside one the rooms, a man about my age in a cowboy hat came darting down the hall, PAST a few other people mind you, only to stop abruptly in front of me. He then shoved his coat and watch into my arms saying, “Here… hold this.” No, please. No, do you mind. Just, HOLD THIS.

And then he was off.

I was aghast… annoyed… PISSED OFF! All I could think was, “What the heck? Do I look like a freakin’ coat rack?”

But, I stood. Waiting…

When he came back, he did thank me. I believe he also introduced himself and attempted to make small talk. Still annoyed, however, I only half listened. Thank is until his friend came up and gave him a hard time. What did she say, “Soooo… this is how you are picking up the ladies these days? A medium this time?”

Annoyed. Angry at Spirit. Angry at the situation… I flipped and I adamantly expressed, “NO! I’m not interested!” And stomped off.

Despite my scene, my friend’s and my followers had grown. There were now TWO!

We went along our way… and successfully ignored them. That is UNTIL….

The gentleman in the cowboy hat stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the hallway. Thinking maybe he got the point. Or, maybe someone else caught his eye. I rolled my eyes and thought, “maybe now he’ll leave us alone.”

Unfortunately, something more serious had occurred. One of the cranky Spirits decided to mess with him. The Spirit had ‘attacked’ him and made it difficult (if not impossible) for him to move. In an effort to help, one by one the people in the ghost hunt lined up to send healing energy, say prayers, and work to cross the Spirit.

At first I didn’t want to get involved. All I could think was, “Smart move tough guy. You should know better. YOU’RE THE GHOST HUNTER. See what happens when you don’t give Spirit a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Serves you right…” But, with a heavy sigh, I found myself in the pack sending healing energy.

And fortunately, all the prayers and healing worked. He was released from the Spirit.

As he shook it off. The group began to break up, and people continued on with the hunt. I tried to walk away, but, Spirit said, “NO! He needs more help… go back. Heal him.”

Again, I was annoyed. (Man in hind sight, I was really not happy that evening!!) But, when Spirit talks, I listen. So I turned around, walked up to him just as a woman was caressing his face and encouraging him to “Accept the love of Jesus Christ the Lord into your life…”

I pushed her aside and demanded he give me his hand.

Soon as his hand met mine, my mind went blank. This is not uncommon for me when I am sending healing energy...

Apparently, not only did my mind go blank, but I had a little diarrhea of the mouth. Out came lots of messages. When I realized I said some personal things I shouldn’t have (I read him without permission… A BIG NO NO), I finished up the healing, dropped his hand, and then scurried off to find my friend to leave. I was done. I’d had enough of the ghost hunt.

As Amie and I walked back to the Dale. We had a good laugh over the whole situation. In fact, we dubbed the two men, “Our ghost hunting boyfriends.” Little was I to know that one of them would become my husband someday. I thought… I’ll never see them again.

Well, we saw them both the next morning during the Church of the Living Spirit Sunday morning service. Now Lily Dale is a REALLY small place, so not many places for people to go. So I shouldn’t have been surprised they were there, but I was a little taken aback.

What really had me taken aback was the way the guy in the cowboy hat kept looking in my direction. It was throughout the service. And then afterwards he again scanned the crowd for me. After locking my eyes he headed in my direction.

Not sure what he wanted to say, I did everything to avoid him. I talked to friends. I talked to strangers I had just met. All while he waited patiently… watching me… waiting…

Finally, however, he gave up… And disappeared into the crowd.

My friend and I only saw him once more that weekend, we were certain he was stalking us. While taking the philosophy class for church, we saw him standing in the street loitering outside the teacher’s home.

Who was the man in the cowboy hat? You probably guessed it. It was my husband, Don.

That’s how we met… but how did we get together? Check out to my next blog to find out.

And to prove Spirit had something to do with lining everything up. Check out this picture. It was inadvertently taken that night and is the first picture of the two of us. He took it feeling a “presence” over his shoulder.