DOES INTENSITY OF AFFECTION COUNT FOR ANYTHING? WHAT MIGHT A GHOST OF TODAY, FIND AN ATTRACTIVE EARTH-ANCHOR?
DOLLS, TEDDY BEARS, TOYS? WOULD YOUR OLD TOY, PASSED DOWN, BE SOMETHING TO ATTACH-TO IN THE AFTERLIFE?
I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED, AND FREQUENTLY ALOUD, WITH PARANORMAL ENTHUSIASTS, IF THE RAW INTENSITY OF A CHILD'S EMOTIONS, AND THE UNFETTERED LOVE IN SPIRIT-KIND OF AN IMAGINATIVE YOUTH, WILL MORE READILY ATTACH ITSELF TO AN INANIMATE OBJECT, UPON LEAVING THIS MORTAL COIL? AS I'VE CLAIMED THAT CERTAIN ANTIQUE PIECES CAN CARRY HITCH-HIKERS, FROM THE OTHER SIDE, I HAVE THIS FEELING, YOUNGSTERS MAY BE MORE CAPABLE OF TRANSFERRING THESE ATTRIBUTES DURING LIFE……GUARANTEEING ADDED, AND VERY EXCITING PATINA, FOR A LINE OF NEW, AND USUALLY UNSUSPECTING OWNERS, INHERITING OR ACQUIRING THE TOYS, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE.
IT'S LARGELY A HUNCH, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE, BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE….., BUT SOME ANTIQUE TOYS ESPECIALLY, CAN POSSESS STRANGE AURAS, AND GIVE OFF PECULIAR VIBES, THAT AT TIMES CAN BE A LITTLE UNSETTLING…..IF YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING A BALL TO ROLL ON ITS OWN, A TOY CAR TO ROLL OVER THE FLOOR, OR A DOLL'S OPENING AND SHUTTING EYES, TO OCCUR AT ODD TIMES, WITHOUT THE PIECE ACTUALLY BEING MOVED. THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTED HAUNTINGS INVOLVING TOYS, AND THEIR ACTIVITIES MINUS A HUMAN PLAYMATE. IT'S THE STUFF OF MOVIES, BUT THERE ARE ACCOUNTS OF SERIOUS PARANORMAL INTRUSIONS, VIA OLD DOLLS AND THEIR CRADLES. IF YOU THINK BACK TO THE BOUNCING BALL DOWN THE STAIRS, IN THE MOVIE "THE CHANGELING." HOLLYWOOD MADE IT A HORROR-FILLED EVENT, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN YOUR HOUSE? WOULD YOUR FEAR BE BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED IN A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE? OR WOULD YOU TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT WAS, AT THE TIME, IN YOUR PRESENCE, WITHOUT CONTAMINATING THE EVENT WITH PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS? IF YOU ARE BEING SENT A MESSAGE FROM THE OTHER SIDE….WELL, THEN PAY ATTENTION, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT A BOUNCING BALL, OR RUN-AWAY TOY CAR MEANS. IF IT'S A TOY THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN IN YOUR OWN FAMILY, OVER GENERATIONS, THERE MAY BE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO DECIPHER. AT THE VERY LEAST, AN IMBEDDED SPIRIT TO RESPECT.
THE POWER OF A CHILD TO MOVE MOUNTAINS
These allegedly "haunted" toys, belonged to someone's son or daughter. They were embraced, used as protection from adult situations, as advisers when a child couldn't turn to a parent, and used as comfort during difficult times. Like few other articles in life, toys, especially dolls and teddy bears, (and plush toys generally), were held close to the heart. During the day, and during sleep. If anything inanimate was going to be haunted, it would have to be toys, due to the intimacy of the relationship.
Even our own boys, held onto their security toys with stalwart resolve, to stick, side by side, through, as they say "the thick and thin of it all." Andrew and Robert had their favorite toy pieces, and several plush toys, and a half dozen teddy bears given to them by doting family, as cuddly, feel-good gifts on those first few birthdays; when bed-buddies helped conquer the fear of dark rooms and darker spaces in the cupboards and beneath the bed. I won't identify their preferences, that all had familiar names, but wherever they happened to be, morning, noon, or night, these comfort-chums were being towed along. They were inseparable during so many early-life events, sicknesses, deaths in the family, night terrors, and then through special occasions like Christmas, and Easter. And these plush toys were what they both hugged the night before going to the dentist, and most often, they rode with them in the car, to the appointment. They hung onto those worn-out friends until the day when ther maturity struck like a cold wind, and their relationship with the toys became more secretive and distant. They might have still been brought into the bed, beneath the comforter, but they wouldn't admit to needing the extra confidence, of once, that they would be protected in their sleep. Not entirely forgotten but put respectfully on a high shelf in their rooms, until an emergency or uncomfortable situation, required some extra cushioning from reality. The creature comforts, offered by these plush toys, was always a kind of "ace in the hole," as they were both growing up. Mom and pop had their own special toys, brought from our family homes, as well, so there was nothing to be ashamed of, to cuddle an old friend in a time of need.
I still have these tattered childhood relics, stored safely away just in case I'm feeling hopelessly sentimental. I was a Mr. Mom you see, right up to the time they finished high school. It was a blast and something I wouldn't have traded for the world, but I too, made attachments to their toys…..even the Hot Wheels. Now here's a clear case of multi-levels of emotional intensity, and unrestrained affection, for plain old, run-of-the-mill toys, worn to a clear frazzle. I would certainly expect a little human spirit has already attached to these items, like a photographic negative captures an image through a camera lens. A century from now, should these once cherished toys be acquired by a toy collector, interested in pieces from the 1980's and 90's, should I expect the Currie's will still have our hands on the relics…..in spirit? Is it possible, we might one day be the ghosts that haunt the vintage Teddy Bear? Will the collector's family report all kinds of strange behavior from the vintage toy room, and hear laughter in the wee hours, as we have our fun with mortal frailties? Some of us, who believe in such possibilities, would relish the idea of kicking up a fuss, as ghosts ourselves. Sure we'll hitch-hike aboard what we adored in life. What's the down side? Oh yea, the fact that some believe it is impossible to haunt anything, especially inanimate objects. It's one thing to talk about a haunted house or castle, but quite another to question the likelihood of a spirited Victorian doll. I'm writing this on the side of the believers, who have experienced haunted toys before.
Hollywood of course, gave us this scenario, with the evil-inherent doll, "Chucky," and that was a hitch-hiking menace nobody needed in their house. But there have been many tall tales, including fun themes like we saw in "Toy Story," and the film about the reanimation of exhibits, during a night at the museum. Fun stuff. But can the materials play host to an earthbound spirit, unwilling to leave an old friend? The movies did draw attention, and I do think it is warranted, to the childhood capability of unleashing a powerful force of imagination and corresponding actuality. Did we believe, in our youth, that our dolls, teddy bears and other plush toys had spirits of their own? Were they considered, as toys, to have the ability to feel our joy and then our pain…..and the very real capability of sensing and then uplifting our moods. Admit it! Of course you did? What kid doesn't believe in the power of friendship, to bring the inanimate to life. If they dreamed it up, for a Hollywood script, then the writers and directors borrowed it from their own childhoods. As we thought there were bad things under the beds, and in the dark closets, we also believed that our protectors wouldn't let us down…..and this had nothing to do with parents.
If you heard a well documented story, about a doll or doll cradle, that acted as if "haunted," might you pause, out of interest, to know more about its background? Of course you would. We might not all believe in the paranormal, and all its potential for messing-up our commonplace, but we are still intrigued by things that go bump in the night. Consider the youngster who might have been abused by a parent, or relative, and the more dramatic role of comfort, a doll or teddy bear would have provided the injured child. A comfortable escape from immediate danger. How often were those same toys embraced as if a rope, while feeling as if falling down a deep, dark well? What amazing friends they were to absorb all that emotional energy.
There is a story, told amongst antique dealers, about a haunted doll cradle. The essence of the story, is that a child was pulled from a burning house, (in the late years of Queen Victoria's reign), by her father, but when he turned away from the child, she ran back into the burning structure, to rescue her doll from the cradle beside her bed. The child was found badly burned, with the doll, beside the cradle. She did not survive the ordeal. A succession of antique dealers, are said to have kept passing off the child's cradle, that had been saved from the flames on that day, because it would begin rocking all on its own. It would seem, the child's intensity, and emotion at the moment of rescue, may have affected the integrity of the small wooden cradle. This is just one of dozens upon dozens of stories bandied about in the antique community, and amongst collectors. There are quite a few dealers who, during their years in the profession, have had similar experiences with antique items, that seemed to be a little more spirited than they should have been. For some of us, it the intrigue and enchantment that keeps us in the business. It's what attracted me to the business as a kid, because I was haunted by history. But you know what…..in all my years, I have never once run into a doll like "Chucky," so even though a doll or teddy bear, might carry a little extra provenance and untold energy, you're not likely to be injured by a flailing axe or knife blade. These spirits are generally benign anyway, and won't even muster a small scare, let along a major fright. Haunted dolls we've had in the past, just like to play silly ass, and knock things over. Hardly a major paranormal occurrence.
Just because I use the word "haunted," shouldn't imply any connection with "fear." I don't fear ghosts. Most of us believers, would enjoy any opportunity, to be in their company. Not the Hollywood depiction of ghosts and hauntings. They are frightening. The ghosts our family have met, have been more like Casper than Chucky. One day, maybe it will be science that actually proves the existence of the spirit, and its capability of hitch-hiking on the strangest of vehicles.
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