A Strange Experience That I Did Actualy Have Once

[Pumpkin_Man]

I was debating whether or not to post this in the Christmas threads, but there is a discussion about hauntings and strange visitations and haunted houses and the like, and I thought this a strange enough story to post in the Paranormal forums.

As you all know, I've had no major encounters with ghosts or the supernatural at my house, but I think something along the lines of the preter natural did happen once about 4 years ago.

It all started one August day in 2004. I was just starting to get the Halloween bug, and I got to reminiscing in my mind about how I loved Halloween and my late brother (he died on December 27th of 2001) loved Christmas. Christmas was his favorite day of the year. It made no difference what time of the year it was, if it was snowing, Christmas music was played. Jack was his hame. And for the longest time, when I would start getting all excited about the pumpkins and putting up Halloween, he would get all excited about Christmas and putting up the tree. Some years ago, I think it was mid 60s, it was the Friday after Thanksgiving, and he came home from the local record store with an LP. "Tijuana Christmas," by a group who called themselvs the Border Brass. Perhaps those of you who are close to my age and can remember owning phonograph records might remember it. It was a Mariachi version of various Christmas Carols.

I was sitting on the basement couch listening to a Simon & Garfunkle album when Jack walked in with this record. I, of course got all excited and stopped the Simon & Garfunlke record, and Jack put this brand new record on, and it INSTANTLY became my favorite Christmas record. It became a brand new Christmas tradition, and every year it was my favorite Christmas record. My mom and sister hated it, but I loved it. As the years went on, that record got all scratched and chiped, and is now virtualy unplayable, so in November of 2003, I went on line and did a web search for "Tijuana Christmas," and hit pay-dirt. Someone had a "Tijuana Christmas" album, in mint condidion for sale for 3 bucks. I figured that I would take a gamble, so I pulled out the old debbit card and made this on-line purchase, and waited anxiously for my musical aquisition to arrive, hopefully on time for the Christmas Season.

Well December and Christmas of 03 camd and went, and no record arrived. January dragge on into February, February into March, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, then June, July, and I pretty much figured I just got ripped for 3 bucks and all but forgot about it totaly. Then in August fo 04, I was driving home from work. I started to think about my brother Jack, and how I missed somuch, especialy with Summer comming to an end, and the last quarter of the year being just around the corner. I played out, in my head, that day when I was very young and Jack brought home that record. I didn't even think about the order that I didn't receive. I was just thinking about "Tijuana Christmas," and how both Jack and I loved that record so much, and how He loved Christmas so much.

When I pulled up in front of my house, I shut off my engine, removed the seat belt, and noticed a package on my front porch. I had no clue what so ever what it was because as I said I totaly forgot about ordering "Tijuant Christmas" back in November fo the previous year. So I picked up the box, entered the house, deactivated my home security system, went through some of the bills and other various junk that came in the mail, and then I opened up the package, and there was my copy of "Tijuana Christmas."

Wierd? I would say so.

Mike

[Ghost]

Definitely weird. A gift from your brother maybe?

[Pumpkin_Man]

I wouldn't be suprised, Ghost. Christmas was my brothers very fovorite time of the year, and he and I both passionately loved that record. He mroe then I, as he loved Christmas so much, but I cant' help but to think of him every time I play that record.

Come to think of it, I'm reminded of him every time it snows, or I hear a Christmas song, and at this time of the year is when I miss Jack the most.

That record is in excelent shap, too. It must have been played once or twice before I got it. I transfered it to a CD so I could listen to it in my car during the Christmas season.

Mike