Uncle John

From: John McGuiness (john-mcguiness@home.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Source: Form Submission

My story takes place in February 1988,I was 22 at the time, I am now 35.My parents had gone to Tenerife for a well deserved vacation.They were elderly and this was their first vacation outside of the British Isles.I had the house to myself, had my then girlfriend Kelly and my best friend and his girlfriend(Davy and Bex)over. When it came time for bed, Kelly and I took my bedroom and Davy and Bex took my parents room.

The following morning being a Sunday we all looked forward to a lay in, but we were awakened by the phone ringing downstairs at 8.00 am.I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.The call was from my uncle Jack in Ireland telling me that my uncle John, also from Ireland had passed away suddenly that morning.I only remember meeting my uncle John once when he stayed at my parents house when I was just a kid, although his wife (my mothers sister)and him were very close with my parents.

Obviously I was very upset and in a state of shock.I sat for a few minutes to gather my thoughts and then headed upstairs to relay the news to Kelly, Davy and Bex who had never met my uncle John.

As I entered the bedroom Davy said "ok John, so I thought you said we had the place to ourselves? who was the guy who passed you on the stairs".I laughed thinking he was still suffering the after effects of the liquor consumption the night before and said "what guy"? "The guy in the grey suit.He looked in here,then went into your bedroom, then the phone rang".

I can still feel the shock at those words to this day. Before I answered, each of them let out a kind of groan that indicated my expression had told them something. I asked Davy what the person looked like. He told me he was taller than me, had a full head of white hair and wore a grey suit with a white shirt and dark tie.

This confirmed my recollection of my uncle John. I called my sister shortly afterwards and without relaying the whole story I asked her what her recollections of my uncle John were. She replied "tall with lots of thick white hair and he always wore a grey sui t". After I relayed the story of what had happened she informed me that I would have been too young to remember that when my uncle and his wife had visited they had stayed in MY room.

It is worth mentioning that Davy and I up until this point could both have been described as 'skeptics'. Although we are both of scientific nature, that evening left a profound effect on both of us. In Davy's words "I think your uncle came looking for your parents, and not finding them, looked for you instead".

For the remainder of my parents vacation, I slept in the living room - downstairs.

Being of Celtic upbringing, I have been told of stories of the deceased looking for relatives after their death however, this was my first encounter but I have had many more since this experience and having shared them with family and friends, I look forward to sharing them with you soon. There is an old irish saying normally given at a baptism.."May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead"...I wish you all the same good fortune. Thanks for listening. I would not have submitted this if my wife had not encouraged me to do so. Please E-mail me if you have any comments. John