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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Ghost Stories / Paranormal
- Published: 03/15/2022
Popcorn & Margaritas
When my father was alive, he often sat in front of the TV watching tennis matches while digging into large tubs of popcorn smothered in butter and salt. He’d wash it all down with store-bought margaritas. As for my mother? She would only eat small amounts of popcorn with no butter or extra salt, while her drinks of choice were either lemonade or fruit juice.
This went on for several years until my father died—not from what he ate, but from a car accident. But he’s still with me . . . in a sense. I know this because of all the stuff he has done for and around me over the years since his death.
It started about a year after we buried him. I was asleep one night when I saw a vision of my father telling me to call my mother. When I did, I found out she had taken a tumble. Even though she insisted she wasn’t hurt, she had gotten a nasty bruise, which I saw when I stayed with her for a couple of days.
The next time my father showed up in one of my dreams was when my mother’s car got totaled in a store parking lot. Thankfully, she was in the store at the time. Afterwards, I helped her deal with the insurance and then with getting another car. But it wasn’t only in my dreams that my father kind of helped steer my life. I’d often sense his presence while out shopping.
Instead of having to circle store parking lots several times until I could find a parking space, I’d spot one almost immediately. At first, I thought it was just me being lucky, until this happened about the fourth or fifth time. That’s when I started deciding that maybe it was my father helping me.
Another instance where I had a sense my father was around was while I was participating in a tennis match. A white butterfly showed up and kind of continued to hover around the court all during the match. Once it was over, I watched as the butterfly began to fly away. As it climbed back into the sky, I mumbled, “Thanks dad for being there for me. Sorry you couldn’t see me win.”
There were other instances, such as the time a sparrow kept pecking at my kitchen window. It wouldn’t leave, so I let it inside, then watched as it flew from room to room, eventually landing on one of my father’s old tennis trophies. It stayed there for about half a minute then flew back out the same window. Another time, a butterfly followed me as I took an evening stroll along the boardwalk of a nearby harbor.
Then one afternoon, I was taking a nap when my father’s image appeared in my dream. He looked stressed, so I asked him what was wrong? He told me that my mother had had a slight stroke. Panicked, I drove over to her apartment, where I found her sitting on the living room couch trying to catch her breath. Immediately, I called 9-1-1 and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
It turned out, it was only a minor hiccup, but it sure gave me quite a scare, which is the reason I decided to call her every day, just to make sure she was okay. But then came the night she didn’t answer her cell phone.
Now, whenever my father comes to visit me in my dreams, mom is with him. But the strangest part is lately, I’ve found myself having a hankering for popcorn with lots of butter and salt while wanting to wash it all down with strawberry margaritas—which I never used to like.
Popcorn & Margaritas(Tom Di Roma)
Popcorn & Margaritas
When my father was alive, he often sat in front of the TV watching tennis matches while digging into large tubs of popcorn smothered in butter and salt. He’d wash it all down with store-bought margaritas. As for my mother? She would only eat small amounts of popcorn with no butter or extra salt, while her drinks of choice were either lemonade or fruit juice.
This went on for several years until my father died—not from what he ate, but from a car accident. But he’s still with me . . . in a sense. I know this because of all the stuff he has done for and around me over the years since his death.
It started about a year after we buried him. I was asleep one night when I saw a vision of my father telling me to call my mother. When I did, I found out she had taken a tumble. Even though she insisted she wasn’t hurt, she had gotten a nasty bruise, which I saw when I stayed with her for a couple of days.
The next time my father showed up in one of my dreams was when my mother’s car got totaled in a store parking lot. Thankfully, she was in the store at the time. Afterwards, I helped her deal with the insurance and then with getting another car. But it wasn’t only in my dreams that my father kind of helped steer my life. I’d often sense his presence while out shopping.
Instead of having to circle store parking lots several times until I could find a parking space, I’d spot one almost immediately. At first, I thought it was just me being lucky, until this happened about the fourth or fifth time. That’s when I started deciding that maybe it was my father helping me.
Another instance where I had a sense my father was around was while I was participating in a tennis match. A white butterfly showed up and kind of continued to hover around the court all during the match. Once it was over, I watched as the butterfly began to fly away. As it climbed back into the sky, I mumbled, “Thanks dad for being there for me. Sorry you couldn’t see me win.”
There were other instances, such as the time a sparrow kept pecking at my kitchen window. It wouldn’t leave, so I let it inside, then watched as it flew from room to room, eventually landing on one of my father’s old tennis trophies. It stayed there for about half a minute then flew back out the same window. Another time, a butterfly followed me as I took an evening stroll along the boardwalk of a nearby harbor.
Then one afternoon, I was taking a nap when my father’s image appeared in my dream. He looked stressed, so I asked him what was wrong? He told me that my mother had had a slight stroke. Panicked, I drove over to her apartment, where I found her sitting on the living room couch trying to catch her breath. Immediately, I called 9-1-1 and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
It turned out, it was only a minor hiccup, but it sure gave me quite a scare, which is the reason I decided to call her every day, just to make sure she was okay. But then came the night she didn’t answer her cell phone.
Now, whenever my father comes to visit me in my dreams, mom is with him. But the strangest part is lately, I’ve found myself having a hankering for popcorn with lots of butter and salt while wanting to wash it all down with strawberry margaritas—which I never used to like.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
11/22/2022A touching tribute to your Dad. My Dad shows up in my dreams. Enjoyed this very much. Thank you for sharing.
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Lillian Kazmierczak
11/21/2022What a wonderful tribute to your dad! I believe that the people that love you most find a way to help you once they die. Buttered popcorn and marguritas are a terrific snack option!
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Lori Hjelmeir
04/10/2022Love this story
So nice to hear about a good family life and relationships that continue into forever! So much dysfunction out there these days
This was definitely a feel good atory. Thsnk you!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Gerald R Gioglio
03/18/2022Tom, a very nice piece. And though fiction is very real to many of us. I treasure those 'visits' and dreams. Looking forward to more of your stuff. Take care, Jerry
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Shelly Garrod
03/18/2022Wow Tom that is a very touching story. Our deceased loved ones can be like angels from Heaven. Interesting relationship between you and your father.
Shelly
COMMENTS (7)