One question I'm asked often is what started my interest in the paranormal. The easy answer is- I was born into it.
I imagine that seems rather melodramatic but it is pretty close to the truth. From a young age, probably about 4, I have memories of listening to stories the adults in the family used to tell. Sometimes they were made up stories about strange creatures, African pygmies drinking tea with the Queen of England and a swamp monster, but other times there were stories that were told about true encounters.
A story I overheard was told by my great uncle Roy about his brother John, whom they nicknamed Buster (another great uncle, not my grandfather). Uncle Buster passed away back in 1959, and after his death there was a gathering. I can't remember who's house everyone gathered at whether it was his home or the home of his mother, it really doesn't matter.
As Uncle Roy prepared to walk down the hallway, he saw Uncle Buster crossing it and entering a room. However, when he looked inside, the room was empty. Of course, Uncle Buster had already died and was buried. As a child, I found this story fascinating, but it stuck with me more because I was sure Uncle Roy had said "French's Mustard" instead of Uncle Buster, leading me to picture a big jar of mustard walking down the hall.
Intrigued I began asking about other ghost stories family members had experienced and soon learned about strange happenings my dad experienced while helping to clear out the home of deceased family friends. You can listen to those stories in episode number 38: Ghost Stories for Christmas Eve.
During elementary school, I started searching for books about the paranormal, but there weren't many available at the time. There were some books talking about Hans Holzer and some detailing the ghost of Raynham Hall in England. Then Time Life Books came out with the 33 volume set of books about The Mysteries of the Unknown and our local library carried them. I think I read them all (and I now own 15 of the 33). This broadened my paranormal education to include UFOs and Aliens, prophets, psychics and mystic lands.
At 10 I had my very first UFO encounter in Virginia. My aunt, cousin and I watched a strange like moving around the sky before shooting off and disappearing. My cousin and I had been given permission to sleep on the boat that night but I was too scare about being abducted and refused. Sorry Kelly. I've had an absurd fear of aliens ever since.
During high school, I visited the TNT area in Point Pleasant, WV, known for the infamous
Mothman creature and numerous UFO and Men In Black sightings. You can hear more about this in Episode 1: Mothman. My cousin and I were fortunate to have family members who supported our interests, and I'm fairly certain they shared the same curiosity. When the internet came around, searching for paranormal information started becoming easier. It also seemed to spark another spiritual movement of sorts. Ghost hunting groups began sprouting up along with ghost tours in every "Most Haunted City in America".
As soon as I was able to drive, I started ghost hunting. This included weekend hunts at the Gettysburg Battlefield and the Antietam Battlefield, as well as late-night visits to cemeteries. I formed my own investigative group, conducted private investigations, investigated the WV State Pen in Moundsville, camped in the field at the UFO Ranch in Trout Lake, WA, toured haunted St Augustine, FL and many other locations. With the birth of the podcast, I've traveled to many new locations to participate in different paranormal themed conventions.
I guess I've always sought answers about what exists beyond our understanding. During my time as a paranormal investigator, I've encountered numerous unexplainable events that convince me there's certainly more out there that we cannot grasp. As Hamlet wisely said, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is why I became such an enthusiast of the paranormal.
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