by Dawn M. O'Neal

Created on: September 19, 2007

Of the many questions posed throughout history, the one that has probably received an enormous amount of controversy is, "Do you believe in ghosts?". I think that question can only be answered by those who have had experiences with ghosts. Those who have not, chalk the question up to a bunch of hocus-pocus, if you will.

My experience along these lines occurred in late summer of 2000. Until this time I didn't have an opinion one way or the other. I never would say I didn't believe because of some of the stories I had heard along the way growing up. It was more a matter of questioning the validity of the individuals sharing the stories more than whether ghosts were real.

I had worked for a lumber company and we had a timber buyer employed with our company named Joel who branched out to go into business for himself. He was still doing some contracted work for our company. Joel would come through our office about 1-2 times per week. On a particular morning, Joel came through our office to show off his new puppy, an Australian Shepherd that he had yet to name. He asked us for suggestions as he was having difficulty coming up with a name. I told him the dog looked like a "Ruben" to me. There was just something about the name that fit.

A few days passed and on the morning of August 29, 2000, we received a phone call at our office to say that Joel had been involved in a single car accident about 20 miles from our facility the night before. He was taken via life flight to the nearest hospital and emergency surgery was performed. Joel died while in surgery.

It was learned within a few short days of Joel's death that his dog had been with him when Joel became involved in the wreck. At the site of the wreckage, the dog was nowhere to be found. A plea was made by Joel's business partner to the surrounding community as to the dog's description and where to call if he was spotted. Within a week, his partner received a phone call that the dog had turned up, amazingly unharmed. Joel's partner quickly went to retrieve the dog which later was sent to live with Joel's older brother and his wife in SC.

Upon being notified of Joel's death, I was devastated. Each year of Joel's tenure with our company, I assisted him in organizing a golf tournament for charity. My first thought was the golf tournament and how it was going to go on without him. I made myself a promise from that moment on to do what was necessary to make it happen the following year.

Within the few days after Joel's

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next Page >>