Why All Has Been Quiet on the Haunt Jaunts Front Lately

I haven’t been posting as usual lately because last Saturday we (meaning my husband and I) received some devastating news: my wonderful Aunt Alice passed away. (Since Wayne’s been a major part of my life for nearly 2/3 of it now, he definitely got a chance to come to know and love my Aunt Alice as much as I did.)

IN MEMORIUM

Like me, my aunt also had cancer. She was first diagnosed in September 2008 with ovarian cancer. Then I was diagnosed in December of that same year with lymphoma.

She was just finishing up treatments as I began mine. We traded war stories as we struggled to heal and I sense, though she never said it in so many words, that having someone to laugh and cry about the indignities of cancer helped her as much as it did me.

This past April hers came back though. This time it brought a friend: along Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). That’s what ultimately stole her life on July 24, 2010.

We headed up to Indiana for the funeral this week. It was a whirlwind of emotions, but I did get to see my dad. Horrible circumstances to see him under but I was happy his health (which has been failing lately) was good enough to allow him to make the journey. I know he would’ve been crushed if he couldn’t. Him and his sister were as thick as thieves their whole lives. Everyone who knew her loved her. She is going to be missed fiercely by many.

HAUNTED HOSPITAL JAUNT

We just got back late Wednesday night. This afternoon I’m heading south to catch up with Steve from Ghost Eyes, Jessica of Ghost Stories and Haunted Places, Ray of Southern Ghosts, and a few others I’ve met mainly via Twitter to stay the night and investigate at the Old South Pittsburgh Hospital.

(Speaking of Jessica, she wrote a funny post about what PJs to wear. I’ll be sure to let everyone know what she ended up doing!)

Tomorrow we may also head over to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee and the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and scope out the battlefield. Not a true investigation, much more along the lines of a haunt jaunt, but it’s another place I’ve never been so two new haunt jaunts under my belt.

A LOOK AHEAD

Next week should see things getting back more on track around here. Here’s a few of the things in store:

• I’m teaming up with Chateau Grrr in the “Cruise Against Lymphoma Raffle” (7 day cruise can be yours for only $25!)
• I’ll be posting an interview with Washington’s Haunted Hotspots author Linda Moffitt.
• We’ll welcome back guest blogger Jen Blaney with a post about the USS Salem. (You might recall her other post on the Bridgewater Triangle.)
• We’ll be announcing details on this year’s Halloween blog party. (It’s going to be even better than last year!)

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.