Grampa Julio is a ghost, not necessarily a good ghost but certainly not a terrifying ghost....more like a ghost with a bad bladder & who presumably was raised in a barn.
Backstory:
During my 2nd and 3rd year at East Carolina University, we lived in an apartment complex called Wilson Acres, in unit K6, a corner unit. Our next door neighbors were the Wilson Acres maintenance guys, who I believed were paid in free rent and quite possibly sexual favors by the 40-something property manager, Dwanda.
I guess our neighbors assumed that my roommate Matt must like to drink for whatever reason.....I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that he once was locked out of our apartment, banged on our door but I was too asleep to answer (this was before cellphones, kids), broke into their unit through their kitchen window only to realize he was in the wrong place (how do you mess that up when we are the corner unit?), then broke into our unit by busting through some panels of our front window.....Matt can correct me if I'm wrong, or if I left out any vital details.
When the neighbors returned from spring break (in Mexico, I think) they had a bottle of something they didn't like. We tasted it, it was nasty, but it was free, so we damn sure kept it. The title of this drink was "Grappa Julia."
After we had the bottle for a bit, we started noticing some semi-ghastly occurrences. Nothing major, though. From out of nowhere, our toilet would flush. Or we'd all be sitting around the living room when all of the sudden the front door would just open...not even on windy days.
We theorized that the ghost came from the "Grappa Julia" bottle, which is an Italian drink.....but since it came from Mexico, we renamed the ghost as.....Grampa Julio.
Sidenote: I listen to an overnight radio show called "Coast to Coast" which is about a variety of topics but is notorious for paranormal topics. An expert on ghosts was on the show a couple weeks ago, and he was talking about how there is indeed a connection between alcohol and ghosts....and in fact, that's part of the reason that we refer to whiskeys, rums, vodkas, etc. as "spirits." Think of how much paranormal activity might go on overnight at a Wine & Spirits shop! I was kind of pleased to hear this explanation because it actually gave some validity to our silly old ECU ghost, Grampa Julio.
Years later, it may be possible that Grampa Julio has found me again.....
On 3 separate nights over the past 2 weeks, when I have been on my way downstairs and out to do my paper route, I have noticed that the front door of my townhouse has been WIDE THE HELL OPEN. It might just be that one of the roommates is not closing the door behind them tightly enough when they enter the house for the night, then the wind is blowing it open.....of course that's the easy answer. But if it is Grampa Julio, then he needs to learn to shut the damn door behind him because we cannot have a wide open door so that anybody who wants can just come in and take the (nothing that I have anyway) or do whatever.
The most bizarre of these 3 occasions happened a couple nights ago....not only was the front door wide open but I also first happened to notice that my roommate Laura's door was wide open (which she never has opened at 3:30 a.m.) and her TV was on (which is also rare as far as I am aware at that time). Of course it could just be that her door was also not quite shut the whole way, and when a gust of wind came in through the front door it also blew her door open the rest of the way.....Or it could even be that she's been sleepwalking and just opening doors (I still haven't had the chance to talk to her about it).....But what if it's something more?
I am at least comfortable about it not being an evil spirit....if it was there would have been something else to happen by now. But even a good spirit that was raised in a barn might let evil in, so that's the scary part. I have told the other roommate Andrea and I will tell Laura to be absolutely sure to close the door tight as hell behind them when they enter.....and if it happens again, I will have to get a door chain latch....then if it happens again, we will know that it is indeed The Return of Grampa Julio......or perhaps one of his relatives like Cousin Pablo.
OMG! Okay 1st) I too have noticed that the door has been slightly open when I come home from work sometimes. It's not wide open but open enough that I don't need to use the key to get in, I can just push it open. 2nd) TV is explainable, I probably fell asleep with it on..door is not. I'm guessing this is the same night that I woke in the morning to find the door open. At least I'm hoping that's the case, otherwise it's happened twice. But, I definitely close my door every night. (PS-if you saw in my room...sorry for the mess :-) cleaning has kind of fallen to the wayside)
ReplyDeleteDoor is tightly closed tonight...we shall see!
Grampa Julio!! What a flood of memories! I looked behind me 4 seperate times while I was reading this. Grampa is staring at me again!
ReplyDeleteOk that is just FREAKY!!!!! I am sorry , but you may NEVER sleep at my place Nate. You might bring that damn Grampa Julio guy with you... Ugh Creepy :(
ReplyDelete:( Grampa means well - he is just forgetful and careless.
ReplyDeleteNate Update: There have been no more incidents since both roommates have been spoken to about Grampa Julio. There have definitely been some strong-winded nights and the door has remained closed....either he overheard the conversations and he's more aware to close the door behind him, or the out-loud acknowledgement of his existence has exorcised him, or the roommates and I have simply done a better job of shutting the door behind us tighter....