The Journal of the Maine Paranormal Society

For the last few days I have thought about our revisit to Cutler, Maine. Even after 48hrs to think  about it. Words and thoughts still tumble around in my head. This visit makes the first one look down right boring. Let me leave the thoughts to tumble a little more as I tell you what we found for evidence on our first visit.

I ended with “I wonder if we will be blessed enough to hear their voices.” Well, hear their voices we did. Whispered conversations took place all around us. An adult female whispers “I want them to leave.” An adult male responds ” I know…..shhhhhhh.” Other longer conversations waffered though the dark rooms. Too low to understand their words but loud enough for us to know they were there. An infant briefly cried out as soft music floated by like a rolling fog.

As investigators unpacked sleeping bags and picked their sleeping spots. The same adult male voice is heard to exhale loudly and say “Shit”. Resigned to the fact that we were there for the night the adult spirits seemed to settle. The child however, got more active. Humming to herself unworried of our presence.

All the activity fell on deaf human ears. But the recorders helped to solidify the potential of a family unit operating independently of the space we occupy. But intelligent and forever watchful of us. Jim asks “Are you male……are you female?” The adult female voice projects loud and clear from the recorder. “I’m a woman.”

To sit by the campfire and tell ghost stories is always fun. But to hear the voices of the past floods your mind so quickly. The thought process stops altogether. All your left with is “I don’t know.”

Checking in with Darcie a few days after our visit. She described hearing a little girl laughing, singing or talking. She had not heard the little girl before. We let her know that indeed, we had caught that same voice on the recorders. After hearing the evidence collected. Darcie accepted her ‘extended family’. The two families living in harmony with each other.

We had scheduled a revisit purely because of the quality of evidence collected. But when called to confirm. Darcie said her new boyfriend had been touched on the back while standing at the kitchen counter. He had heard the stories, even heard the evidence from the first investigation. But when that first personal experience happens. You have no choice but to reevaluate your beliefs.

So our destination entered into Tom tom. The equipment is hauled out to Luke’s vehicle. I step out of the house to  see three men staring into the back of the van puzzling over how to fit everything. I quickly slip between them and rearrange everything and we were ready to go. Luke made a comment about no silver bucket. Then proudly proclaims. “We will be riding in the golden nugget today.”

The golden nugget shot onto the turnpike and roared into life. Luke at the wheel. Jason was co-pilot and I sat in back with our newest member Scott. As all long rides go. Subject matter flipped from topic to topic. When movies came up the reference to ‘Super Troopers’ hit home.

“Team Ramrod.” Luke says.

“Team Ramrod …….in the golden nugget?” Scott asks.

“Sounds like a baddd movie title.” I add.

“Yeah theres a joke in there somewhere dude.” JJ snickers.

The discussion goes back and forth until Luke realizes I got quiet.  “No blogging about this!” he demands.

“Already started.” I absently answer.

So as I do with everyone else. I start asking Scott why he is riding in a car for 8hrs to investigate the paranormal. Scott’s shocking red hair and solid frame are very different than the  quiet, thoughtful personality. In a small voice he describes a life long interest in the paranormal. But above all, he wants to know if communication is possible. Strings of his heart hold fast to loved ones. “I would just feel that much closer to those I have lost.”

We chat about home life. Married with two kids, he proudly shows pictures. He says he plays drums, is an avid reader, decorates cakes, and is going to school for computer programming. (Not even mentioning his full-time job). ” I really enjoy just hanging out with the kids” . He gets quiet for a few minutes, then says. “I don’t know if I will find what I am looking for or if its even possible. But its getting there that interests me as well.”

As we enter Machias it hits home where we are going and what we are doing there. Luke asks for a run down. I start with the original claims. Full body apparitions, music heard, being touched or having your leg rubbed, and sometimes foot steps upstairs. I tell them about the audio evidence we got and remind Scott to just step outside if he gets overwhelmed.

When we arrive, Darcie and Chris are waiting. The home still feels peaceful and welcoming. I ask her what the happenings have been. She says the little girl talks alot and moves things. Chris tells the team about being touched. The boys set up the equipment and we are ready to investigate. Jason and Luke go upstairs and I sit behind the monitors. Scott paces restlessly. Going into the play room and back out again. Once he settles on the couch the house is quiet.

Chris looks at Darcie and whispers something. I heard “Darcie” said. Luke calls down. “Who is whispering?” I ask Chris if he said Darcie’s name. Both him and Darcie say no. I call up to Luke “They were whispering. But I thought I heard the name Darcie said.”

Luke says he heard it too. The tension in the air is noticeable. But after an hour everyone relaxes. Scott goes upstairs with Luke. As hes sitting on the end of the bed. I see him sit up quickly and inhale sharply. He reports it felt like someone ran a finger up his back. The next time it happens I feel a flutter of energy. I tell him. “I swear she is getting a thrill out of it. You squeek everytime she does it. Your a squeek toy to her.”

“Yeah I get that. I’m trying to not make any noise.” Scott answers exhaling.

I head upstairs to sit with him and try to get our little friend to play ball. A few hits on the K-II and RF meter but we were not able to get her to repeat it. Eventually Luke makes his way back up the stairs. He sits in the rocker and I sit on the end of the bed. We both see shadows and light fluctuations. Luke says he hears music. I see a shadow just to the left of Luke. Seconds later he bolts out of the chair saying “shit!”

“You alright?” I ask him.

“Dude…..I just got touched!” he exclaims.

As I laugh very hard at Luke’s excitement. I feel something hit the head of the bed and my feet slide on the hardwood floor. “Something just jumped on the bed.”

“I heard that.” Luke says about the springs of the matress creaking and the legs of the bed squeeking on the floor.

Now this is what you call being painted into a corner. Having just laughed at Luke. I can’t jump up. So I stay sitting and with a deep calming breath I clap and cheer our spirits on. “Good job! We certainly know your here now.”

Luke investigates the corner he was sitting in thoroughly. “I felt a hand come down on my shoulder. There was some pressure to it. I could feel the fingers. Did you see anything?”

“Ummm……” I suddenly find the floor very interesting.

“What did you see?” he asks, still looking in to the corner.

“A shadow.”

“Where?” Now hes looking at me.

“”Behind you.” I manage to eep out.

“You saw a shadow behind me and you didn’t tell me?!”

“I didn’t want you to get up. And besides there have been lots of shadows in that hall.”

JJ can be heard laughing downstairs. “Why don’t you come up here tough guy.” Luke challenges. JJ comes upstairs and Luke descends. JJ sits in the same rocker. Its not long before hes asking me to snap some pictures. “I have the sharp fuzzies.” He says.

I snap pictures. Then he descirbes a feeling of something sitting on his lap and the place feels quiet and calm again. “I guess we are tired.” JJ says.

“Probably time to wrap up anyway.” I yell down to the guys. “Hey why don’t you guys come up and try one more EVP session with all of us.”

From below two voices. “We’re good.”

So we thank our friends and head down the stairs. Darcie is all smiles. I thank her again for letting us come visit and ask Chris if hes all set. As crazy as it got. They meant no harm. He says hes fine and they both look forward to hearing what evidence we got.

The ride home was quiet. The only thing Scott asked was “Is is always like that?” Meaning is it always so startling when you get touched. Answer being yes. You can’t see it coming so you can’t prepare for it or expect it.

Halfway home Luke confessed he was glad we were not spending the night. “I wouldn’t have been able to sleep there.”

Even people who believe in the paranormal have a threshold they are uncertain about crossing. Everything you’ve ever known threatens to fall away. I look at these two new members and wonder when did I get so comfortable. I replay the events of the night. But all I can see in my minds eye is a father resting his hand on Luke’s shoulder. And a little girl running behind me and jumping on the bed. Squeeling with delight as Luke is startled. It all seems so normal. like sitting down with another family for a holiday meal.

I can’t shake the feeling that we walk away from this with more than just experience.