Grampa Ghost

This story is about the reoccuring presence of my Grampa while I was a child. From the time I could first remember until I was about 12 years old, every Christmas, like clockwork, my Grampa Steele would come visit.

Just a little background, my Grampa Steele was an amazing man who I (still) love dearly. He was an Army veteran, fought in 3 wars (WWII, Vietnam, and Korea) for the country he loved most, an ordained Minister and was a volunteer firefighter on his off time. Amazing, right?

We lost my Grampa when I was around the age of 5. At the time, even though I was so young, I remember feeling like I had just lost my best friend. He loved us so very much and loved to be around us as much as possible, especially my Dad, who he felt very protective of since my Uncle Steve took his own life. According to my Dad, once that happened, Grampa Steele made sure to make as much time for his family as possible. Which is why none of us were ever surprised when, after he passed, every Christmas (usually around the time we put the tree up), he would appear.

My Dad said it started happening the first Christmas after his passing. We all (my parents, 2 sisters and brother that is) seen him at some point. The first time I seen him, I was about 9. It was right after we said our prayers and our dad had tucked us in for the night. My older sister was the one to see him first. I remember her sitting up and just saying "hi, Grampa" very non-chalant like. I rolled over and seen, clear as day, a man that looked exactly like my Grampa when he was a young man, dressed in his Army uniform (I believe they're called the Army Blues, they are the ones they were for special occasions). He smiled, blew us all a kiss and walked down the hall to my parents room. I got up once he left our doorway and watched him walk into my parents room and heard my dad say "Dad, we're alright. Merry Christmas Dad."

For about two more years, he did the same thing. Come in, smile, blow us a kiss and then leave. I know it was just his way of making sure everyone was fine. Even though I haven't seen him since I was about 12, I just know he's still around. He's just got that kind of strong presence that you can feel.

Thank you for reading!