It was a nice Friday night, right around 58 degrees and very little breeze. 14 real nice folks joined me last night. Had a couple from Boston, a whole bunch of people from all over Pennsylvania and three bikers from Milwaukee on their way home from Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. "It's the only way to see America" she told me. Amen sister!
There was a lot of nice cameras on tour last night and these folks must have taken my picture at least 20 times. If you didn't know it, you'd think there was a small electrical storm around Old Dorm for about 5 minutes. Flashes going off everywhere!
Towards the end of the walk I had what I call "stunned silence" after the "Buried Alive" story. There were no children in the group so I let these people have it. "Buried Alive" is the most intense and intimidating story in my arsenal and after it was over, the group just stood there. They said nothing, blank stares on their faces, and I could see a few catching their breaths afterwards. Awesome! That is what it's all about! Every person in the group seemed to be hanging on every word. I have been playing with my verbage of this story. I trimmed it down some, used a few more power words, put a little anger in my tone of voice and brought that story home! I need to say it again, AWESOME!
From tours gone by... I don't remember exactly how this came up last night, but since there were no children in the group, I told the group about this little incident that happened about 6-7 years ago. I was guiding the Carlisle St. tour which takes you on to the campus of Gettysburg College. We were in front of Stevens Hall and I was telling the "Blue Boy" story. This story is very depressing. In order for this story to be effective you need to tell the history of the Homestead Orphanage and it cruel mistress, who abused the children, way before you get to ghost part of the story. A lot of times you will see people getting upset which means you are doing your job with this story. But this one night I had these two guys in the back of the group having a great time. They were smiling and carrying on. I was watching these guys all tour and I didn't think they were drunk or on anything, so I didn't know what they were up to. As we were walking back into town, they came up to me and revealed the reason for their behavior. Stevens Hall is the girls dorm at Gettysburg College and I guess there was a girl changing in one of the windows. These guys, who were middled aged and on a Gettysburg weekend without their families, told me that seeing that made their whole trip. I don't know if anyone else caught the peep show that night, I know I missed it. Ever since, every time I go to Stevens Hall I make sure I bounce my voice off of the building a few times before I get into the stories over there. You never know what you're going to see on a Ghosts of Gettysburg candlelight walking tour!
Sleep well,
"Rick Saunders"
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