Blog 62: Nashville, Tennessee (TN)

​Nashville, TN
After graduating from graduate school in Nashville at Tennessee State University (TSU), I could never imagine going back to Nashville to visit my own child one day in college. In May, 2022, my family and I watched my daughter graduate from Vanderbilt University. Each time I arrived in Nashville to visit my daughter, including on her graduation day, I have a story to tell from my time as an undergraduate student at Fisk University. God knows I have told my child "almost" all of my undergraduate secrets, but not all (smile). She is, however, fully aware of and met all of my girlfriends from undergrad because they are still my girls to this day. Our friendships started in...

August, 1990

Seems like a lifetime ago but since we still have a lifetime to live, how about 32 years ago? I am not sure if that sounds better, but who's counting? As we have grown into women, we learned that we are the same girls that we were at 18 now at 50-years-old, but with less concern with societal issues and judgements. We communicate when we can and those conversations are even more enjoyable now than 32 years ago. I can sit and laugh at any given time thinking about my past in Nashville. Actually, it makes me glad that we did not have cell phones in the early 90s. 

Nashville also brought other people within my life as well. Most of them have come and gone which meant that they either had something to teach me, or I needed to teach them. I spent quite a significant amount of time in my 20s in Nashville, so you can imagine the things that I learned especially about people. From those who were important enough in my life to remain with me for over 30 plus years, to those who hurt me. You can only learn to be a better person from being hurt. It prepares you for what is to come into your future, although it sucks for the moment. I was a part of several wedding parties, and some I was not a participant but still happy for the couple nonetheless. As some of you will be one day, I was accused of doing things or being a part of ideologies that were untrue. That is how you learn to deal with people. As long as you know the truth, let it go. Then, you forgive people because that is what is best for you and not them. That is something that I learned to do at a very young age,

Forgiveness

A Nashville Ghost Story
My friends from undergrad will recall ghost stories about Jubilee Hall on the campus of Fisk University. I will let you all read about those stories, and some of us will remember trying to locate the ghost. However, another friend invited me to her wedding and I wonder if she remembers the ghost story below.

In Nashville, I was invited to a wedding at a mansion with a significant history in the city. The invitation not only made me happy because of the wedding, but I had a curiosity about historic mansions and homes. I am also a fan of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and the Historic Village at Faust Park in Chesterfield, Missouri. Visiting this mansion in Nashville in my 20s was exciting. Unbeknownst to me, even back then there was an aura of spirituality within me that sparked my interest. I can still recall the day because it was beautiful outside and I still remember smelling the flowers and trees. I have a favorite tree that grows in Nashville, the magnolia tree, and it smells so good. Lots of foliage surrounded this lovely property.

Although I am intrigued by historic homes, some of them will give me pause pending how they appear to me. For example, dark windows and creepy staircases. (I bet you’re laughing) What can I say? I can get guarded and remember, I had not worked with Nebulous Children at this time of my life. Anything paranormal or feeling as if it can be related to ghosts was enough for me to turn around and walk away.

Side Bar: I was asked to visit an alleged haunted place recently. I said no because I do not want dark angels following. This person shared that it did follow someone home that she knew of, and they had to get rid of it. 

That's a no for me.

Anyway, I was drawn to the mansion not just due to the wedding but because it was stunning, manicured, and the furniture and paint was gorgeous. I wanted to know more about this mansion and since I am friendly, of course I talked to and befriended the curator enough to give me a tour of the mansion. I will never forget what transpired in that mansion, although I will not name the mansion in this blog.

We walked the grounds, then I prepared for the wedding. The curator promised to finish the tour laters, but this time there were others who accompanied me when we toured the interior of the home. The curator started from the back of the mansion because that was the wedding location, then entered into the kitchen area where the wedding staff prepared food. I recall some of that, but I do not specifically recall the parts of this mansion that were not worthwhile to me. What I do recall, however, is fascinating to say the least. We walked upstairs I believe from the kitchen area, (I have not looked up the interior photos to specifically remember the mansion on google) and toured the bedrooms. I felt as if,

Someone was following us around the home.

I do not know why, but I kept watching my back. I just had a feeling something was there although I felt fine. It was not scary as a matter of fact, it felt peaceful. The home was bright, airy, and had bright colored walls in each bedroom and bathroom. The walls had been repainted over the years, but the wall colors were pretty and of the time period when the home was initially built. I cannot remember if all of the bathrooms upstairs had a toilet and bidet in it, but the master bedroom definitely did because I was stunned by its presence in the bathroom.

As we walked into the master bedroom I swear something touched me and the curtains moved. Still, I had no fear at all. Maybe I thought it was my imagination because I remember ignoring it. The bedroom was very calm as if the mood was happy or content. It is hard to explain. I stopped in the middle of the master bedroom for a moment and smiled while taking it all in, and I can still see myself doing that in the middle of the room. The curtains moved again and that time, I walked into the master bedroom a bit faster after the curator called me and the bathroom,

was…spectacular! 

I recall feeling a if I did not want to look in the mirror. I think a part of me was nervous that whatever was following us would appear in the mirror because I refused to look in it. The curator asked me what I was afraid of as she giggled. I guess she could see that I was walking faster and would not look in the mirror. I told her my thoughts about a presence following us around the home and the curtains moving. I also shared with her that the bathroom was exquisite and that if that was the original bathroom design, it looked very feminine. The curator said,

I am not surprised that you feel a presence.

Say what? She said, the home does have a ghost and we believe that it is the wife who haunts this mansion. The wife was known to show herself to guests, but she is not a negative entity. I said, “She enjoyed having guests?” The curator said yes, how did you know? I mentioned that I just feel an overwhelming sense of happiness, but not just due to the wedding or being happy because of the wedding. I told her that I was not afraid at all, and it actually feels welcoming and pleasant. The curator acknowledged that the wife had a significant amount of dinner parties during her time, and was a well-known socialite hosting parties at the mansion and other events. I said,

She liked the bathroom a lot didn't she (curator)?

The curator said, “Yes and she designed it.” Aloud I said, “I knew it.” The curator smiled at me and told me to follow her to show me a picture of the wife. Now, I did not know this at all but there was a large painting of the wife in the foyer on the right-hand side as you walk through the front doors. Remember, I never entered the front doors and was walked around to the back of the home for the wedding. In addition, the tour started from the kitchen and went upstairs. Besides, how would I know that was a painting of the wife if the curator did not tell me? I do not remember if there was signage near the painting or not detailing a history of the wife. I am pretty sure that there is one because that’s what would make sense to me since it is a historic landmark. The curator also mentioned to me that this spirit was also known to move curtains to let others know of her presence because she was content with visitors to the home. In life, the wive loved to entertain. Apparently, she still did in death too (I'm just saying).

Interesting right? What’s even more remarkable to me is that I not only had all of those feel-good moments in the home, but they were in the exact places that were deemed pleasing to this ghost, such as the bathroom. Furthermore, this was long before I was aware of Nebulous children and adults. I was thinking of this encounter earlier in May while in a hotel in Nashville during my daughter's graduation. There was a picture of the mansion sitting on the counter of the reception area. Immediately, I shared with my husband,

I have a story about that mansion, in excitement.

I thought, when I get writer's block a simple photo will trigger my memory with the supernatural in my younger life. Long before,

Kids Can See Ghosts Can You

Random Thought:
Since the wife "loves" celebrations, maybe she was in the hotel when I arrived to celebrate my daughter's graduation. I cannot make this stuff up, nor do I want to do so either.

Congratulations to my graduate!