Must've been an angry chef in another life!
Tammy Goodwyn (39) a Legal Assistant in Wekiva Springs, Florida keeps having
to replace all of her china, wine glasses, and any other breakable piece of
kitchenware, as a result of a poltergeist who has taken up residence in her
kitchen. She has a file folder full of her credit card bills, with
department store names highlighted where she purchased new dishes, etc. On
the day I interviewed her, her dishes (which she claimed were only about three
months old) were relatively poltergeist-free.
The Dish on Ghosts: What a Mess!
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D: How much have you spent so far, replacing stuff that your poltergeist
destroyed?
T: Jesus. My accountant totaled the whole thing up and it's about three
grand so far this year. I really don't know before that because I used to
pay for everything in cash.
D: Is there some way to make that a tax write-off?
T: (Chuckles) Funny you should mention that. I talked to my accountant
about that and he told me that I would have to spend more than my personal
deduction, which is in excess of four thousand dollars. Or else I could
incorporate myself... It's just a huge pain to go through. It could be
worse, you know. I could have high medical bills or something. I just have
resigned myself to take care of it.
D: How long have you lived in this house?
T: Four years.
D: Has this been going on for four years?
(Tammy's thirteen-year-old daughter, Claire, enters the room and tries to
show her mom her report card)
T: Not right now, sweetie. I'll look at it as soon as I'm done here.
(Claire leaves the room)
T: Anyway, no. The incidents began about two years ago. I was cooking
dinner and I suddenly noticed that the place settings I'd put out for my
daughter and I had been thrown on the floor. I turned back around, and all
of my plates, which were really my grandmother's plates, were stacked up one
on top of another. That was the real tragedy. I tried to move them
carefully, and they just fell and broke. I got a good chunk of one lodged in
my calf for good measure. It didn't scar, but I did go to the hospital.
D: I hate to be simplistic, but have you ever thought of just getting
plastic plates and cups?
T: Absolutely! They were crushed, folded in half, and scratched up. It was
creepy. My girl wouldn't eat off them after that. Paper plates were
shredded until they were a powdery mess. It ventilated my Tupperware, and
left an acid-like dissolved area in Pyrex dishes. I eat out a lot now
(laughs).
D: So you just keep replacing them with ceramic dishes?
T: Well, I usually get several months out of each set. Besides, I don't
like being controlled by whatever this is. I make good money, I'm patient,
and I think I can last longer than whatever this is. It's a waiting game. I
am way more stubborn than any whatever this thing is. I can wait longer, I
can beat it.
D: Have you thought about moving?
T: Oh sure! I hope to be out of here in a few months. One of the lawyers
at the office said that I might get into trouble if I don't disclose the true
reason for leaving, but I'll take that chance I think. We're in a good
neighborhood here, so the house should go fast. I just hope it doesn't follow
me anywhere.
D: Has there been any history at this house of these kinds of occurrences
before?
T: I've looked into the public record at work. I couldn't find much in
terms of history of ghost sightings or whatever at this house. It's an old
house for this area, about sixty years old. It's first owner died here, but
that was in the forties and he died of old age. There's a few robberies and
things like that, but I don't believe in ghosts or anything so I have no idea
what could be causing it. It's really quite a nuisance.
D: Have you tried getting exorcists or parapsychologists in here to cleanse
the house or something?
T: I really don't believe in any of that. Maybe one day I'll get so
desperate that I break down and try something, you know, airy-fairy like
that... For now, I will just do this my way. I think it's a waiting game.
I did have some surveyors come by one day to make sure that everything was
level in my house. You never know with all the sinkholes around here...
Anyway, there were no structural defects. My house is fine.
Editor's note: Three days after our interview, I received a call from Tammy
Goodwyn, claiming the poltergeist had struck again. She kept the kitchen
exactly as it was until I was able to come and take these pictures.
sources
Interview with Tammy Goodwyn May 12th, 1998
Photo credit: Derek Barnes