Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Haunted Blogfest ~ Reminiscing about Flo

Hello, my blogger friends!!  I'm back.  Sorry I missed you all last week.  But, I'm here in full force today to participate in Bish Denham's:


The challenge is to write a haunted story - preferably real - in 300 words or less.  I fear mine is more of a reminisce/short vignette - but, it's a fun memory from my teenage years.  I hope you enjoy!


(source)
Florence Louise Grange, or as she’s more famously known as, “Flo”, was the ghost of ghosts back in the day. The best way to get Flo to come out and play was to drive to the top of her cemetery lane at night and park the car with the headlights pointed down towards her headstone. A brave volunteer would walk down to her headstone, recite the words carved on it precisely, then turn and walk back up the lane without looking back. Flo would erupt from her grave as a glowing green ball and follow (or chase) you up the street. (*TIP: this is where a date comes in handy, because I had a good excuse to fling myself into his arms…)



She would hover and hang around for a while. And if you got lucky, she would even morph into her original form – a sad young girl in a long dress. I only ever saw her as a ball of light. But, she’d say “hello” often, as often as we went to see her.


As more and more people started to visit Flo, the cops started to patrol the cemetery in force. My friends and I had a way around that. Instead of driving in, we would park in the neighborhood across the street and walk into the cemetery. This was an even bigger rush, at least for us. Not only were we excited to visit Flo – but the added “cool” factor of dodging the cops just amped up our fun. We dived behind headstones a time or two, leaning into the shadows and away from trolling patrol-car searchlights.


But, Flo never seemed to mind. Headlights or not – if we held to the ritual, she’d appear. As a grown-up with my own teenager, I can’t say I’d recommend this date/hang-out activity to my daughter. I’m a parent, of course. That would just be…wrong. Of course, if my stories and reminisces of my youth spur her to seek out these haunts on her own? I hope she’ll tell my old friend Flo that I say “hello”.

 
I hope you'll all click on Bish's name above to visit the others participating in the blogfest.  And thanks, so much, for stopping by.  Happy Wednesday!!

12 comments:

Meredith said...

Wow, that would have creeped me out so much! But definitely a fun date idea. :) Haha, awesome story!

Bish Denham said...

That is so cool! Fantastic story. I say take your daughter and go visit Flo. She'd probably happy for the visit. Thanks for taking part Donea!

nutschell said...

Hello! dropping by from Bish Denham's blog hop.
Flo seems to be a very social ghost. I wonder if she was a bit of a celebrity in her days. Fun yet creepy story!

nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Donna K. Weaver said...

Cute story. It'd take a brave soul to hang around long enough to realize Flo wasn't any danger.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Thanks for the story. It's such a great time of year for ghosts.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That was fun! And come on mom - take your daughter to the cemetary.

Yat-Yee said...

I'll bet your date loved it that you flung yourself into his arms as much as you did!

Kelly Polark said...

That is spooky! You all are brave to keep going back.
I will not be able to go to sleep tonight after reading all of these stories!!!

KM Nalle said...

I can honestly say that cute boy or not, I would have been broken a personal best running OUT of that cemetery. Love the *Tip* though. LOL.

Martin Willoughby said...

If that's your idea of a date we'd have never hung out. Far too creepy for me.

Peni R. Griffin said...

Whoa, you consistently saw the ball of light! That's great! Where is this cemetery?

Susan Kane said...

Cemeteries have a lot to offer for writers--you can do it! Go there!