Our unit consists of 22 college-educated, highly-trained, vastly experienced individuals who have seen more than our fair share of this world, but there is a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet that nicely sums up our collective belief:
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
When new members come to the team, they smile indulgently, grimace, and look away, when we inform them that we have a ghost in our office. Not sure if we're pulling their leg or serious, they take the safe path, nod, listen, smile again, and wonder what they've signed up for - because clearly we are nuts.
That lasts until they're sitting in the office and hear the door open, hear the footsteps, hear the copy machine, and go check it out - and nothing is there . . .
The rest of us don't even bother anymore. It's the ghost. We accept it. As we patiently explain the possibility that we bring all manner of "things" back to the office with our evidence, the newbies indulge the fruitcakes. But when they cannot explain why the door opens, and who made the footsteps they just heard - then it's not funny any more.
Like the rest of us, over time, they too begin to accept it. The ghost simply is. I don't analyze it too much. Like creatures from under the sea that I've never seen, I simply accept that it is and don't ponder it. Only once over the years have I ever felt actual malice from something we brought back with us. It lingered behind the trucks in the parking garage. Unlike the Office Ghost, it gave me the creeps and I was glad to see it go. Where did it go? Again, I don't ponder those things. I will just tell you this: Shakespeare was right,
- there are more things in heaven and earth.
