Monday, March 28, 2011

HAUNTED VENTURE

Hellooooooo…
I’m back from an extended, multi-leg working vacation…
And glad to be among the living…
Not that I was among the dead…
But then again perhaps I was.
You see, my first leg started a few weeks ago.
In Chicago...
Where I stayed at The Congress Hotel on Michigan Avenue
It’s one of the ten most haunted places in Chicago.
I didn't know the hotel was haunted when I booked it...
And only learned about it when Googling for directions.
Seems the hotel was once owned by Al Capone…
Who ran his business in suite 800 for a time.
There was a suicide and who knows how many murders…
Room 666 is closed forever and no one will say why…
(666? I wouldn’t even want to stay in that room)
And Room 441 is the room has the most “sightings”.
My friend and I stayed in 470 just down the hall…
And actually, the hall itself was creepy enough.
Our room was at the very end of it…
Or at least what appeared to be the end, but not really...
Because there was a heavy metal door leading to more rooms.
Room 441 was beyond that door...
And down a dark hall where no guests were staying.
Curious, I and my friend ventured beyond.
Not wanting to have the door slam shut behind us…
And trapping us on the “dark” side…
We stuck a rumpled garbage bag in the door jam.
As we tip-toed further and further down the hall…
The Overlook Hotel from The Shining came to mind…
And I think Stephen would be proud I had the guts to go forward…
Just as Danny did on his Big Wheel towards room 237.
Creeping forward into the unknown…
I turned a corner andAHHGGHH!
My friend screamed and took off…
And  I burst out laughing. I had played a mean trick on her.
Nothing was around that corner except the rumbling in the elevator shafts.
Fear of a real threat–security–made us abandon our little escapade...
And we left the hotel and found a pub down the street…
Although I didn't encounter any real ghosts...
My fear was real and I can recycle that emotion in my writing.
How about you?
Ever stay in a haunted place?
Do you even believe in ghosts?

Always, Em-Musing


5 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Was wondering where you've been. Sounds like a great trip, hauntings and all. Our house used to be haunted when we were kids. The old man died in it and there were always spooky sounds and he would take stuff and move it. Our cat hated him, that's how we knew there was a real ghost.

I can't remember which Ghost Hunter tv show did a show on that particular hotel. I watched it a long time ago. Really spooky. REALLY SPOOKY.

Glad you're back.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oh, Chicago! I've been there once and loved it!
No, never stayed in a haunted place. I don't think I would be able to sleep. LOL

Tana said...

I hope your friend forgave you! And no I haven't. I'm too afraid to think about it!

Jennifer Hillier said...

Ooh, you're mean! I scare easily and would still be mad at you if I was your friend.

I do believe in ghosts. I do I do I do.

Linda N.J. Szymanski said...

My Mom and I loved to watch spooky TV- Twilight Zone and heart-pounding stormy night movies. People love to be scared. I must admit, going through that door (yes I'm the good friend who ventured down that hallway lighted only by an EXIT sign at the end with Karen), was just too much fun! All those stories about murders and Al Capone running through our heads.... we crept along, I felt just like Lucy and Ethel! There were doors, slightly ajar, along the way with nothing but pitch-black beyond and of course, Karen dared me to open them- which I did with great trepidation! They were usually closets- very dark closets, but thankfully, no glowing eyes greeted me. Then I Double Dog Dared her to go down to the end of the hall and look through the next door...Did she? Let's just say we double locked and bolted our door that night... but can't ghosts go through walls, too?