Madison’s Musings~Checking “ghost hunting” off my bucket list

I honestly don’t know what I expected of our lock-in with the Kool Kids Supernatural Sleuth Saturday night.

When Patti and I first heard about it, we agreed to go together in case ether of us got too scared. And let me say, I was glad to not be there alone.

Not too long after they began their initial sweep of the theater, taking photos of every space in an effort to maybe catch something, or someone, on camera, one of the investigators, Robin Kirk-Hotz, called us over.

She had captured a voice on her recording.

We took turns listening, and sure enough, a breathy “hi” could be heard. This was taken in the lobby of all places, a logical place for a greeting.

After we walked the theater along with the team, and sooner than I would have liked, the lights were turned off so the real fun could begin.

Patti and I sat ourselves on the stage, while two of the investigators sat in the front row of the seats and the other two stood on the stage with us.

I made sure to sit with my back against a wall because I couldn’t stand to wonder what could be behind me.

Jody Hess of the Kool Kids had a bit of difficulty while on the stage as a camera she was using refused to stay on. It didn’t lose all battery power, as is rumored to happen when spirits zap the power, but it sure wasn’t wanting to work.

I had my camera with a full battery strapped on me, and I’ll admit I kind of wanted it to die. How cool would it be if it had?

Through Robin and the dowsing rods, we learned there were at least three spirits present and that some were Native Americans.

Candice Walker with the Shawnee Board was asked if she’d like to take a turn with the rods, and this is when it got real.

After asking if there was someone she knew present and asking if it was former seamstress and usher for the theater, Joan Baumann, I think we all felt the shock when the rods answered “yes” to both.

Candice told the group that a seat in the front row was always reserved for Joan, and she pointed to A-12, a seat occupied by one of the Kool Kids crew, Shelby Fark.

Shelby had told us earlier in the evening that she senses things during investigations, and when we realized what seat she was in, she said she’d felt tingles since she sat down.

A REM-Pod was then placed in the seat. The device triggers when anything comes near it or touches it. As we talked about what happened and learned more about Joan, the device went off.

Chills.

The pod triggered a few more times while we chatted, and we recalled that it did the same as the crew introduced themselves following the movie earlier in the night. Someone was in Joan’s seat at that time, too.

Between the dowsing rods, the REM-Pod beeping to life and the “hi” from the lobby, I for one was all spirited out.

Patti, Candice and I all parted ways with the Kool Kids around 12:15 a.m., and I had to turn on several lights and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” when I got home for some comedic relief.

So, was it really Joan defending her seat and maybe even greeting Robin in the lobby? It sure seems like it. All in all, it was an incredibly neat experience and I only wish I had had the strength to stay later.

The Sleuths can be found on Facebook under “The Kool Kids Supernatural Sleuths of Southern Indiana”, and Robin shares videos of their investigations under “Robin Kirk-Hotz”.

When she’s not writing away or volunteering, Madison can be found jamming to some good ol’ country music, fishing, crocheting, resisting the Amazon impulse buy urge or jonesing for some sweet tea. She can be reached at msmith@gcdailyworld.com