Haunted Vacations and Kissing Ghosts

Last week, I happened to be in a part of Georgia in which I’d never laid foot before, the islands off the coast, specifically Sea Island. And it was lovely. Very, very lovely.

The girls had five full days to occupy ourselves while our gentlemen swung clubs. Golfing makes them extremely satisfied and it’s always helpful to have a very happy husband (sort of sounds like one of those lame fortune cookie sayings!). And we are experts at finding things to do and messing around which makes us, girls, even happier!

Sea Island is connected by a bridge to neighboring St. Simons Island. Both are quiet and laid back in a secret sort of way. The knotty trees are dripping with Spanish moss just as the locals are dripping with manners and hospitality.

While renting bikes, we became acquainted with Eric at Monkey Wrench, one of the local places for beach cruisers. He was the first one to speak of them, “St. Simons has ghosts."

Ghosts!

And haunted lighthouses!

And Tree Spirits!

Oh, my!

He didn’t say it like, “Folklore has it the light house is haunted.” He said matter-of-fact, “We have ghosts. Our lighthouse is haunted.”

That grabbed my attention faster than dangling a sweet Georgia fried shrimp in front of my face because guess what? I believe in that shit!

Our excitement built as Eric fit our bikes, shoved us maps and sent us on our way wishing good luck!

This had all the elements of a spine tingling day of adventure. I LOVE being creeped out.

Wait! Luck? Why would we need luck?

It was an easy six mile ride down to the ocean from Sea Island; breezy and cool under the above pictured tree lined streets. Racking our bikes, I snapped this picture with my phone. It’s said to be one of the ten most haunted locations in America not because of the amount of ghosts, but for the frequency in which experiences have been reported.

Wouldn’t you totally buy into the whole haunted thing if you saw this? Look at those clouds perfectly puffy over the tower. Ominous! Ghosts are walking around up there right now! I just know it.

Ten dollars got us a tour with a docent who said in her most serious southern drawl, “Ya’ll know, this light house is occupied, right?” And she went on to explain the “she” ghost, a peasant woman, who lost her wealthy lover, at sea. She stood in the water waiting for him every night, lantern in hand, and when it was clear he’d never return she threw herself into the same water in front of the lighthouse. Her footsteps can be heard running up and down the stairs late in the evening with much persistency.

This is the story the docent believes. See this link for the official “story” of said ghost but I believe her because I like “she” ghosts.

Following our visit to the lighthouse, we embarked on finding the “Tree Ghosts” as the locals call them. It was a bit like “Where’s Waldo?” locating them in obscure trees around the island.

Apparently, they’re world famous and people come to St. Simons Island just to see them. The artist, Keith Jennings, was commissioned to immortalize the numerous sailors who lost their lives aboard the mighty sailing ships that were made from St. Simons oak. The carvings are said to hold the spirits of these sailors and island natives.

Their eyes are always closed as if they’re sleeping peacefully. Although, the guy above looks pissed off. They are just beautiful to see in the middle of nowhere. Some are newer carvings while others are decades old with the tree encroaching on their faces.

Is it possible to breathe life back into a spirit? I gave it a try.

And then my friend Sue just had to go and bring the whole thing down to nasty by telling me to give the Spirit tongue. Who, in their right mind, gives a Tree Ghost tongue?

Very inappropriate. I wonder if there will be any negative and long lasting repercussions for me trying to suck the spirit out of a ghost.

I believe in this stuff.

And I truly believe I HAVE seen a ghost! Right here where I live. Not in my house but next door!

Have you?

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