Listener Tales 109: 80's Tales!

Summary

Morbid Podcast – Listener Tales 109: 80's Tales!

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: April 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this 1980s-themed installment of Listener Tales, Ash and Alaina dive into haunted house stories, brushes with infamous true crime figures, and delightful nostalgia from the decade of big hair, wild fashion, and even wilder tales. True to form, the episode serves up a mix of spine-chilling, hilarious, and heartwarming listener submissions—each uniquely flavored with 80s culture references, jokes, and plenty of authentic Morbid banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The 80s Vibe & Nostalgia

Timestamps: 01:40–05:45

• The hosts banter about their own birth years and childhoods, poking fun at each other for being "end of a decade" babies.
• Lots of jokes about 80s hair ("A whole bottle [of Aquanet] would probably be used" – Ash, 03:43) and fashion, debating who would have “slayed” hardest in 80s style.
• Radio vs. MTV, slang like “rad” and “totally tubular,” and the era’s overall aesthetic set the mood.

“You could literally, like, shoot an arrow at somebody's hair and it wouldn't penetrate.”
– Ash (03:48)

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2. Listener Tale 1: "A Ghost Slept With My Grandma"

Timestamps: 06:59–21:58
Submitted by Brian

Story Highlights:

• Brian shares tales from his 80s New Jersey childhood, specifically of his grandma (“Nan,” a self-described witch/clairvoyant) and their haunted family home.
• Nan’s supernatural experiences start the very first day with the apparition of “Old Joe,” a gray-haired man in a flannel.
• The haunting escalates—door slamming, footsteps, metal-on-metal noises (“He was a blacksmith… just residual hauntings from Old Joe’s time in the house,” – Ash, 15:58), persistent dry dog food smell, someone being held down in their sleep, and even the discovery of a “vortex” in the basement.
• The house’s history is confirmed by a photo of Joe and his dog, plus local corroboration. The ending? After Old Joe gets handsy in bed with Nan, she has the house blessed. Paranormal activity ceases, and the ghost’s presence is confirmed years later by a neighbor.

Notable Quotes:

“That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Nan could tolerate cabinets slamming…her nephew getting choked out in his sleep. But she would not abide by a non corporeal cuddle buddy.”
– Ash (19:42)

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3. Listener Tale 2: "Richard Ramirez Doubled Down on Visiting My Parents' Window"

Timestamps: 22:31–29:25
Submitted by Erica

Story Highlights:

• Erica recounts her parents’ LA apartment during the 80s—close to the LaBianca house—where her mom twice encountered a man climbing a tree to their second-story window.
• The first time, her father arrives home just in time to scare him off. The second time, her dad brandishes a vacuum, whacking at the man in the tree.
• After Ramirez’s arrest, both parents—long since divorced—agree the intruder was him.
• The story is dedicated to Erica’s late mother, a fellow true crime fan.

Notable Quotes:

“He brandished a vacuum...honestly, that might be good because it’s so shocking. Like, you wouldn’t think—vacuum!”
– Ash (25:22)

“Whenever I've seen that movie [The Purge], I'm like, do I get that? How do I get that?”
– Elena, about wanting full lockdown against serial killers (25:19)

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4. Listener Tale 3: "Get Out—He's In Your Bedroom” and the Tater Tot-Loving Ghost"

Timestamps: 29:26–44:20
Submitted by "Violet"

Story Highlights:

• Violet, a punk college student in ‘82 Illinois, shares the saga of a terrifying home invasion after a wild party.
• Friends awaken her screaming “GET OUT, HE’S IN YOUR BEDROOM!” after seeing an intruder break in through a window.
• Police find evidence of a break-in, but nothing is stolen—leaving everyone rattled.
• Weeks later, food starts disappearing from the fridge (notably tater tots and lasagna), blamed on a possible ghost.
• The twist: previous tenants, blackout drunk, broke in one night by mistake thinking they still lived there, ate the food, and left!
• The hosts revel in the story’s “full circle” ending, emphasizing the chaotic, lawless spirit of the 80s.

Notable Quotes:

“Just drunk guys out of their minds and craving a good tot.”
– Ash (44:12)

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5. Listener Tale 4: "Spirit at the Salon"

Timestamps: 45:02–51:45
Submitted by Rob

Story Highlights:

• Rob describes afternoons at his aunt’s 80s-tastic beauty salon. The vivid details—pink vinyl chairs, wood cabinets, perm solution—evoke the decade.
• He sees the reflection of a ghostly lady in curlers after hours, who’s never actually present in the room—always just in the window.
• Years later, as an adult, Rob returns home, gets his hair set in curlers, and sits under the dryer to “keep her company.”
• The moment is touching, giving Rob a sense of peace and belonging. He credits the “hair guardian angel” for his fabulous hair and fondness for salons.

Notable Quotes:

“No place feels like home to me as much as a quaint neighborhood hair salon… I like to believe that part of the reason [for my hair] is the unnamed Ghost lady is my hair guardian angel.”
– Rob (50:59/51:46 as read by Elena)

“This is my favorite story we've ever received. She's watching over the hair.”
– Elena (51:45)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Ash and Elena lovingly roast 80s trends:

  “You could wear those to a ghost concert.”
  – Ash (04:55)

• Calling out “Mr. Steal Yo Girl”—aka Old Joe, the haunted house ghost making moves on Nan.
• Ash on serial killer home invasion fear:

  “If there’s even a whisper of serial killer vibes, I’m getting a full, like, purge-style metal box.” (25:07)

• The running gag:

  “It was the 80s.” (Throughout)

• On tater-tot theft:

  “Don't keep it so weird that you break into people's house and steal their tater tots…those are mine!”
  – Ash & Elena (52:56)

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Timeline & Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:17–05:44 | 80s icebreakers, style & hair nostalgia | | 06:59–21:58 | Haunted house: “A Ghost Slept With My Grandma” | | 22:31–29:25 | True crime: Richard Ramirez at the window | | 29:26–44:20 | Home invasion, scarred roommates, and the tater tot caper | | 45:02–51:45 | Heartwarming: “Spirit at the Salon”—ghostly comfort | | 51:45–53:49 | Wrap-up, favorite moments & encouragement to “keep it weird” |

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Episode Tone

Upbeat, irreverent, a little chaotic—classic Morbid. Regular detours into humor, sidebars about fashion and food, and a touching, empathetic read of even scary or sad stories. Both hosts create space for the earnestness and nostalgia of their listeners.

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Final Thoughts

This 80s edition packs in the nostalgia, scares, and plenty of laughs or tears ('80s fashion, haunted blacksmiths, brushes with darkness and brushes…). Even the most outlandish tales—haunted grandmas, tree-climbing serial killers, tater-tot-munching ghosts—are related with warmth, empathy, and comedy. The final tale (“Spirit at the Salon”) leaves things on a gentle, uplifting note, underlining Morbid’s gift for finding the heart in all things strange and spooky.

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Note:

• Ads, intros, and outros have been omitted.
• Listener emails & photos described in detail; permission to share requested.
• For story submissions: [e-mail], labeled "Listener Tales."

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Transcript

[Elena]

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[Ash]

Why have I asked my h vac

[Elena]

guy I found on angie.com to change my grandpa's trachea tube?

[Ash]

I was so amazed at how we replaced our air ducts. I knew I could trust him to

[Elena]

change Pop Pop's tube.

[Angie Hicks]

I think we should call a Dr. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail]

[Elena]

at DSW we ask the important questions

[DSW Announcer]

like what shoes are you going to wear?

[Elena]

Whether you're prepping for wedding season, festival season, or just playing planning the ultimate vacay, the right shoes can make or break an rsvp.

[DSW Announcer]

So own the moment.

[Elena]

You've got big plans and we've got just the shoes at the perfect price of course. Get ready to get ready with Designer Shoe Warehouse. Head to your DSW store or dsw.com today and let us surprise you. Hey weirdos.

[Ash]

I'm Ash and I'm with the band

[Elena]

and her name's Alina and this is morbid.

[Ash]

It is 1980s edition.

[Elena]

1980s edition. What was life like in the 80s?

[Ash]

The oldest I was was five in my 80s so I think my life was probably pretty sick. Yeah, I don't think I was with the band at that time, but probably not.

[Elena]

Well, you don't know. You might have been a cool like rocker five year old. We were both born at the end of a decade.

[Ash]

I was born in the middle of a decade.

[Elena]

Okay, whatever. If you round up, it was almost over. You're in 1985. I was thinking of myself mostly as 1996 and I was like the end of a decade.

[Ash]

I said I want to take this journey with you.

[Elena]

But you were born towards the end of a decade in the middle. Well no, because you're December.

[Ash]

Smack dab in the middle.

[Elena]

You're December. So it's basically the end of the year. Yeah. What? I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm. I'm over it. What were you saying about Nicholas? The background Was like, all right, Alaska. All right, Alaska. Oh, that was great.

[Ash]

That was great.

[Elena]

What were you saying about Nicholas?

[Ash]

Oh, I was saying, I bet Nicholas is gonna feel fancy free today because I have this, like. I have this feeling in my. In my bones that Nicholas is, like, a. Like an 1880s kind of guy.

[Elena]

So where you decide? 1880s or 1980s? Yeah. In the future. He just said, why did that work so perfectly?

[Ash]

I was. I wasn't ready for such a swift

[Elena]

response to, wow, he's real.

[Ash]

Nicholas. Nicholas. Okay, Nicholas.

[Elena]

Real. You guys. Okay. If you lived in the 80s, like, the night 19 ones, to be specific. The 1980s, how did you live like this? My hair is destroyed. I teased so much of it that I.

[Ash]

Such a good one, though. Thank you.

[Elena]

It's actually kind of falling because I got hot. That's my question. When you guys got hot in the 80s, like, did your teas just fall?

[Ash]

No. Because you would use an entire bottle of Aquanet.

[Elena]

Yeah, see, I didn't have Aquanet, but I did use a ton of hairspray.

[Ash]

Yeah, you. A whole bottle would probably be used.

[Elena]

Oh, my God. Like, it's.

[Ash]

You could literally, like, shoot an arrow at somebody's hair and it wouldn't penetrate.

[Elena]

Wow, that's crazy.

[Ash]

And radio was big in the 1980s.

[Elena]

Oh, and then video killed the radio star. Exactly.

[Ash]

See, Nicholas, he gets it.

[Elena]

He's into it.

[Ash]

He's on theme today.

[Elena]

See, I don't think I would have done that great in the 80s because I don't feel very pretty right now.

[Ash]

I think you look gorgeous.

[Elena]

I think you would. Thank you. I think you would have slayed the house down. Boots in the 80s.

[Ash]

Thank you.

[Elena]

Like, I. This is, like, a little. Remember when I dressed as Miranda Priestley and I was like.

[Ash]

Oh. Like, I think I was the.

[Elena]

Like, I think this might be who you are.

[Ash]

I think if I was, like, old enough to. To. To exist.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Like, be, like, a teenager.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

This.

[Elena]

You would have been unstoppable.

[Ash]

Thank you.

[Elena]

Unstoppable.

[Ash]

Wrong decade, I guess.

[Elena]

I know.

[Ash]

I needed a little earlier.

[Elena]

You're still pretty unstoppable. You're just dressed a little different.

[Ash]

Just a little. Just a little. To be honest. It's just.

[Elena]

Well, I was gonna say you could. You could wear those pieces separately. Yeah.

[Ash]

And it would make sense to be quite honest.

[Elena]

The pants.

[Ash]

The pants are like butter. Yeah.

[Elena]

They look nice.

[Ash]

They're very comfortable.

[Elena]

You could wear those to a ghost concert.

[Ash]

Funny story, too. John was opening the mail, and he opened all the separate pieces of this and he just sent me a picture of it while we were upstairs working. And he said, what's this about? And I was like, oh. Like. And I said what it was. And I was like. And he was like, to be honest, I wasn't sure if you were just buying.

[Elena]

Buying a lot of clothes.

[Ash]

Like, he was like, I. He was like, the only thing that threw me off was Motley Crue T shirt.

[Elena]

That'll do it.

[Ash]

That was the only thing that he was like, what's that about?

[Elena]

I was so sad. I had, like, a really 80s, like, corset thing. But it was. It was gonna be. This would have been marked, not safer. My titties were up to my chin. I was like, I could not go on the Internet like that. Good for you, though, man.

[Ash]

Yeah, good for you for having boobs up to your chin.

[Elena]

I mean, it's not comfortable. So right now they're sitting nice in the middle. Let's get to the tails, y'. All.

[Ash]

Let's get to the tails.

[Elena]

You know why? Because this is brought to you by you. For you. You and all about you. Did that. What did they say in the 80s? What were like the. I was like, let's get to the tales. But wait, I have more questions.

[Ash]

Cool. Rad.

[Elena]

Rad.

[Ash]

Yeah, rad.

[Elena]

Dude.

[Ash]

Dude. What?

[Elena]

Mikey. What did they say?

[Ash]

Wow. Mikey was also, like, six, I think. What did they say? I was five.

[Elena]

So I said, can I please have a juice?

[DSW Announcer]

That's what I said.

[Ash]

Same.

[Elena]

What did your people say?

[Ash]

What did your people say?

[Elena]

Did they say tubular?

[Ash]

Probably.

[Elena]

Maybe. Righteous.

[Ash]

Righteous.

[Elena]

All right.

[Ash]

I just wanted to know, have we met? See, Nicholas is like, this sounds familiar. He's like, wait, you guys look familiar. He said Righteous, Right?

[Elena]

Totally Right.

[Ash]

That could also be from the 1880s.

[Elena]

He's feeling very different way.

[Ash]

It's a very different kind of.

[Elena]

I don't think Nicholas. I feel like he wouldn't have been with the Righteous.

[Ash]

I don't think so either.

[Elena]

He would have been with that.

[Ash]

But maybe that's why he was like, have we met? Oh, are we on the road?

[Elena]

He was like, cuz, I'm going to run.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

All right.

[Ash]

We'll learn more about Nicholas as we go.

[Elena]

As we go. It's a learning exercise.

[Ash]

It is.

[Elena]

Do you want to go first?

[Ash]

Sure.

[Elena]

I feel like.

[Ash]

You do. Yeah.

[Elena]

Always.

[Ash]

I do. Let's start with listener tales. A ghost slept with my grandma.

[Elena]

That's a good place to start.

[Ash]

I might take this jacket off soon because I am sweating.

[Elena]

I would take this jacket off, but again, we'd be marked unsafe for work.

[Ash]

Hello, spooky ladies. My name is Brian. Feel free to use it and any other names ahead.

[Elena]

Hi, Brian.

[Ash]

And I'd love to share the story of the haunted house I lived in as a toddler. But of course I have to start off by joining the chorus of praise for the podcast.

[Elena]

Thank you.

[Ash]

I've been a listener for a few years and looking forward to the next episode of a Too Padda is still just as exciting as the early days.

[Elena]

Aww.

[Ash]

You've both managed to say stay so genuine to yourselves despite how Giant the Mighty Morbid Empire has grown. And I wish you all the success in the world.

[Elena]

That's really nice.

[Ash]

That's like really nice, Brian. I know. That was really nice.

[Elena]

Thank you, Brian.

[Ash]

Elena, you're becoming an author partly inspired me to tiptoe into the field of creative writing.

[Elena]

Hell yeah.

[Ash]

Yeah, Brian, let's go like, let's go running into the field of creative writing.

[Elena]

Brian.

[Ash]

Wonderful in there.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

I encourage you. Finally writing down this listener tale I've been sitting on feels like a great way to start.

[Elena]

Hell yeah.

[Ash]

And I'll absolutely need a change of clothes. If you ever end up reading this on the pod. We'll give you a second to get a change of clothes. Ready. Go.

[Elena]

Righteous clothes.

[Ash]

Hope you're feeling comfortable and very cool. That said. And very rad. That said, enough with the flattery and onto the tail. So, a little background to start. I grew up in a medium sized shore town in New Jersey.

[Elena]

I thought he said I grew up in a medium sized shoe town.

[Ash]

A medium sized shoe town. Picture basic suburbia with strip malls, cookie cutter houses, constant traffic, but a 15 minute bike ride to the ocean. Most of the details in the story take place while my dad was growing up in the 80s.

[Elena]

It was the 80s, man.

[Ash]

I always think of that though. The blue episode when he said it was the 80s.

[Elena]

The 80s.

[Ash]

Growing up in the 80s, when the town was a lot smaller in the community. A bit closer. The haunted house in question was in fact my dad's childhood home. My grandparents raised their family in that house. They had three sons and a daughter, plus care of their nieces and nephew for a total of eight in the small house.

[Elena]

That's a lot of kids.

[Ash]

I only have very vague memories of that place. Like the pinball machine in the basement.

[Elena]

Hell yeah.

[Ash]

And our dog at the time, Misty. Photo attached. But otherwise I was too young to remember any of the freaky things that happened there. This story was told to be by my grandma who I'll call Nan. Probably when I was still a little too young to hear it. And I'm doing my best to recount it here. Also very relevant to the story. Nan considers herself to be a witch. Nan?

[Elena]

Hell, yeah.

[Ash]

That's her term, not mine. I would find clairvoyant or perceptive to be more accurate. For example, she knew the moment her sister had died in an accident long before being notified. Oh, fuck. And she always knows if she's being lied to.

[Elena]

Same.

[Ash]

Damn. I even tested her once, and she correctly guessed a coin flip enough times in a row to convince me that she really could sense it.

[Elena]

Damn.

[Ash]

I consider her a reliable source, and she had her first experience in the house the day they moved in.

[Elena]

Oh, I didn't even let you rest.

[Ash]

After getting the keys to their new house and doing a walkthrough of the recently finished basement, my grandma got an intense chill and saw an apparition of an older man with gray hair, a checkered or plaid shirt, and jeans.

[Elena]

Hate that.

[Ash]

Right? When you get the keys and are doing the walk through, and it's like, hey, so you're doing the walkthrough, and you're like, this looks good. And you're like, does he come with it?

[Elena]

You're like, can he go?

[Ash]

Are you guys taking him?

[Elena]

He wasn't in the pns. Yeah.

[Ash]

Like, do we have to pay extra for him? Are we gonna. Yeah, we're solid. Can we sign something that says he stays?

[Elena]

Oh, you want him to stay?

[Ash]

Yeah, let's let him stay.

[Elena]

Okay.

[Ash]

This is his business.

[Elena]

I mean, he was probably there first.

[Ash]

Exactly. She didn't described it as a menacing presence. Okay.

[Elena]

All right.

[Ash]

But she ran upstairs to get my grandpa for help.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Naturally, after going back down, the apparition was gone. But there was a persistent and strong smell of dry dog food coming from one of the rooms. Ew. Ew. This was writing. This was writing up to be a leftover odor from the previous owners, which would dissipate in time.

[Elena]

Oh, my God. If the previous owners of my home left it smelling like dry dog food,

[Ash]

that would be rough.

[Elena]

I would call something on.

[Ash]

Yeah. I would call the authorities. The rest of the move in went fine, with about half of the basement becoming bedrooms for the kids and the other half as a rec room slash concert space for the family band.

[Elena]

Oh, awesome.

[Ash]

Okay.

[Elena]

Rock on. Hell, yeah.

[Ash]

Still, though, my grandma felt uncomfortable being down there alone. I don't blame her. Yeah. Now, the presence in the house affected each member of the house in different ways. Some certainly more Severely than others. My aunt, for example, would complain about hearing a metal on metal banging noise in the middle of the night.

[Elena]

I hate that.

[Ash]

She also cried fire one night after seeing smoke drifting into, not out of the vent in her ceiling.

[Elena]

There was an accident. I need you to know that. I thought he meant she cried fire. And I was like, what the.

[Ash]

And he just met casually and he

[Elena]

just was like, she had that one time fire.

[Ash]

It was crazy.

[Elena]

I was like, what?

[Ash]

That's. Handling it differently. Like, that's. That's really different. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, that's a lot. My dad remembers one night they had a party with all their friends downstairs, listening to the band play during a snowstorm.

[Elena]

The band? Tm.

[Ash]

You know, the band. After a few too many drinks, my dad ended up getting sick in the upstairs bathroom and was gone for a while. He rallied like a true 80s teenager. Hell, yeah. And when he got out, he heard their unrecorded original songs coming from the basement. But when he opened the door to rejoin the party, the lights were off and it was empty. The party had ended abruptly as the storm was getting worse and everyone went home while he was upstairs.

[Elena]

What the hell?

[Ash]

There was no explanation for the music he heard.

[Elena]

That's pirating.

[Ash]

And it's all. It's unrecorded, too.

[Elena]

Yeah, I don't know about that.

[Ash]

Everyone would hear footsteps. Doors would slam. The dog food smell never did go away.

[Elena]

Oh, that would piss me off.

[Ash]

But nothing truly felt scary.

[Elena]

Yet.

[Ash]

That feels scary, too. That was until my uncle woke up unable to breathe one night. That's scary. But he remembers feeling held down and strangled, struggling to break free and being unable to cry for help. Whatever it was that held over him. Released when the family came in after hearing the commotion. After the escalation and feeling genuinely unsafe in the home, Nan sought the help of a medium. According to her, this was the fourth most powerful medium in the country. In parentheses are mediums ranked. I always question this detail. Who knows? I didn't know that either. But they agreed to come inspect the house. This medium could sense the presence of a spirit, a previous owner of the home. Still lingering. They also found out that there was a motherfucking vortex in the basement of the house. Not a vortex, as in my old house was a subway platform for all things spooky to come and go. And what advice did Mr. Super Medium give? Not much you can do. Burn some sage and hope for the best. At least they're generally harmless.

[Elena]

Are they generally harmless? In a vortex, you can't be sure, yeah. Anybody could roll through. That's like the SK Pier mansion. There's a vortex and basement. Yeah.

[Ash]

Cuz somebody broke the rules.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Nan was satisfied enough with the vortex situation, as the smudging did stop the more violent behavior. But the resident spirit was more concerning to her. While going through the attic, she came across a box of paperwork left behind. It belonged to the original owner of the home and was mostly old T docu tax documents and such. But to her shock, there was also an old photograph in black and white. It showed a man with gray hair, flannel shirt and jeans, pictured alongside a faithful looking golden retriever. As I'm sure you've guessed, the man in the photo was the apparition Nan saw the day she moved into the house. Newly armed with the original owner's name. I'm going to call him Old Joe.

[Elena]

I love it.

[Ash]

I think that's the perfect name for him. And I appreciate that. In a picture of her ghost, she was able to reach out to one of Old Joe's surviving relatives. That's awesome. After meeting this relative, Nan learned that Old Joe was a blacksmith in town and lived there with his beloved dog until the day he died in the house.

[Elena]

Wait, what if the. The person that got strangled your uncle. What if that was just the dog laying on him? Because I know you feel strangled in the night when your dogs. I do, like lay on you sometimes.

[Ash]

Dogs do strangle you in your sleep. Not intentionally. They love you. No, they're just big. Yeah.

[Elena]

A golden retriever. That's a big dog.

[Ash]

Big chunk.

[Elena]

So maybe he was just laying on your uncle.

[Ash]

Yeah, he was like Snowgle. Yeah. Not wanting to look crazy though, Nan chose not to mention that her grandpa Old Joe is kicking around. Not wanting to look crazy, Nan chose not to mention that her grandpa Old Joe was still kicking around, but instead thanked her for her story and left her the documents and photograph, knowing the story behind her spectral cohabitant and that he was really just looking out for the family in the house. The smells, metal hitting metal sounds. He was a blacksmith after all.

[Elena]

Oh yeah.

[Ash]

Were all just residual hauntings from Old Joe's time in the house. That was until Old Joe made a move on Nan.

[Elena]

He said, now you know me. Now we're familiar. Chime is changing the way people bank. With fee free banking built for you. No overdraft in monthly fees, thousands of fee free ATMs and members can benefit from up to $1,150 in annual rewards. With a Chime card, you get 5% cash back in a category of choice like gas or groceries, and savings that grow faster with a 3.75% APY that's nine times higher than the national average. Chime is not just smarter banking, it is the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking fee free today. Head to chime.commorbid that is chime.commorbid. it only takes a few minutes to sign up. Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking Services for Chime Card provided by Chimes Bank Partners. Optional products and services may have fees or changes. Stated annual percentage yield and cash back for Chime prime only. No minimum balance required. For more information on APY rates, go to chime.com disclosures every good detective needs a partner to support them on important cases. Think of a State Farm agent like your Sidekick, there to help you along the way in your search for coverage. State Farm can help you choose the coverage you need, whether it's for your home, car, boat or even rv. With so many options, it's nice knowing you have help finding what fits for you so you can get back to solving all of life's bigger cases. Go [e-mail] or use the award winning app to get help from one of their local agents. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Livy Dunn]

I'm Livy Dunn, All American gymnast and Viori athlete. When you travel and train as much as I do, you find happiness where you are on the mat or on the sand. Movement and comfort are essential. That's why I live in performance. Joggers by Viori made from Dream Net fabric that's made of 89% recycled materials, effortlessly soft and made to move as much as I do. My happiness starts here in the softest joggers on the planet. Get 20% off your first purchase at Biore.com Libby that's V U-O-R-I.com L I V-V-Y exclusions apply. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on US orders over $75 and free returns. Go to Vuori.com Libby and discover the full versatility of Vuori. Clothing exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.

[Ash]

Somewhat absent from the story so far has been my grandpa Gramps. Oh, Gramps worked two jobs to support the family, leaving the house at 2:30am to go spackle houses before clocking in for his shift at the railroad at 11am oh my God. Getting home around 8 at night, he's A hard worker. Usually, Nan told me he would sleep like a rock. But oftentimes he would roll over in bed and she would end up getting crushed and pushing him back over. Not at all. Something. I want a picture. Nan. One morning, she said she was woken up by this familiar feeling, but was alarmed by the time. It was about 3am Witching hour aside, this meant Gramps had overslept and was late for work. Instantly alert, she turned over to wake him up and rush him through his morning routine, but found that she was in bed alone.

[Elena]

Oh my God.

[Ash]

Old Joe snuck into bed with Nan and was starting to get all up close and personal and she was not having it.

[Elena]

Oh, it's Mr. Steel Girl.

[Ash]

Old Joe. Old Joe out here.

[Elena]

Old Joe's Mr. Steel Girl.

[Ash]

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Nan could tolerate cabinets slamming shut. She could tolerate unexplained noises. She could tolerate her nephew getting choked out in his sleep. But she would not abide by a non corporeal cuddle buddy. That's fair. That morning, Nan contacted her pastor to come exercise the house a bit. To her dismay, she learned that Baptists don't do exorcisms. But to put her mind at ease, he would be happy to come over and pray in each room and bless the house.

[Elena]

That doesn't always work.

[Ash]

Reportedly, this seemed to do the trick and all paranormal activity stopped for the remaining years they lived in the house. Yeah, I will not yell. This includes like go nuts.

[Elena]

This is very 80s.

[Ash]

It's very 80s.

[Elena]

Let it all out.

[Ash]

Oh my God. Do you also love Tears for Fears?

[Elena]

We love Tears for Fears.

[Ash]

Do you also think they have banger after banger after banger after banger? I'd be telling everybody this.

[Elena]

I agree.

[Ash]

Nicholas has heard me.

[Elena]

I love Tears for Fears.

[Ash]

So this includes my two year stint there. I was brought home from the hospital in that house and we moved out when I was very young. It was the day that we moved out of the house that it showed its face again. After the final sweep of moving day, the doors inside could be heard slamming as we said our goodbyes and left.

[Elena]

They were upset you were going, yeah.

[Ash]

Or they were like, good riddance.

[Elena]

One of the two.

[Ash]

One of them? No, maybe two. As I mentioned, Nan told me this story when I was in middle school. And while it had me freaked out a bit at first, I'm no stranger to a ghost story and having no first hand experiences with it myself, I never really believed it. That was until I got to high school and my English teacher happened to be a childhood friend of my dad's. Small town perks.

[Elena]

Oh that's cute.

[Ash]

First week of school she told me how many great memories she had. Youth group with your dad and uncle, summers in your grandparents pool and the ghost that lived in the house.

[Elena]

Confirmation.

[Ash]

It wasn't until years after being told the story that I had it corroborated with someone outside my immediate family. Unprompted, it felt like the whole town knew about the ghost in my gram in in my old house. And with consistent accounts from everyone I've asked, I am convinced that my childhood home was haunted by a pervial blacksmith named Old Joe.

[Elena]

I'm convinced too.

[Ash]

So that's the story. If you read this far then I don't feel bad for not apologizing for the length earlier.

[Elena]

Never apologize.

[Ash]

I know you ladies wouldn't have edited it anywho. No, I do apologize for any ramblings or grammatical errors though. Please keep it keeping it real alongside that with a healthy dose of weirdness. Forever spooky. Brian and I love PS attached a photo of a little baby me with our dalmatian Misty from when I lived in the house. She was a sweet dog but dumb enough to eat an entire loaf of bread bag twist tie and all. Brian, that was a great story. I love your pervial blacksmith Old Joe.

[Elena]

I love Mr. Stealio Girl.

[Ash]

I do appreciate it.

[Elena]

Nicholas is expressing that too. Nicholas liked it it okay tale number two Richard Ramirez doubled down on visiting my parents window. Oh it was the 80s.

[Ash]

It was the 80s and my parents

[Elena]

were living in LA. Unrelated but coincidentally quite close to the LaBianca house. My dad was a mild mannered professional by day by night. Played drums in a rock band multiple times a week. Hell yeah.

[Ash]

Rock on the coolest families in these 80s tales it was like rocking out.

[Elena]

Everybody was cooler. My mom would often go to gigs with him, but on this night she was hanging at home and decided to head to bed before he was back. The weather was warm and she decided to get some breeze flowing into their second story apartment window through their bedroom window.

[Ash]

Don't do that.

[Elena]

Which was one of the old school ones that slid up and didn't have a screen. Oh, there were windows without screens back then.

[Ash]

Who needs a screen?

[Elena]

What the fuck? In first hearing this story I asked her why she felt compelled to do that and she just drugged and said it was the 80s, my dad was still out and she was drifting off to sleep as she was, she heard a mild commotion in the tree right outside their window. I don't ever want to hear a tree commotion.

[Ash]

Not even a mild one.

[Elena]

None of the above.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

Figuring it was an owl or a cat or some other nocturnal critter, she didn't pay it much attention at first. But then it started getting loud. No, way too loud to be an animal in another. What the fuck were you thinking?

[Ash]

Move.

[Elena]

She got out of bed and peered over the windowsill. There she saw a mop of black hair making its way through the branches. And if the person it belonged to took one more step or two up, they'd be face to face.

[Ash]

No.

[Elena]

I would get a pan and whack a mole.

[Ash]

Yeah, truly. I'd grab like a weight, whack a

[Elena]

mole, drop, get out of my tree. In wild but fortunate timing, my dad was just getting home and the hall light and him asking what in the world his wife was doing sent the new mysterious creep shimmying right up into the tree, away into the night. Unsettling as hell. But probably an isolated event, right? Yeah.

[Ash]

No, no.

[Elena]

Within the next week or two, he. Or week or so he came back. Both of my parents were home this time. And clearly didn't heed their previous experience, guys. Because, yeah, that window was open again. I will note that this was during the time Richard Ramirez was just starting out his horrendous mayhem and sparking only potential serial killer buzz. So I guess between that and the 80s of it all, I'll give them a teeny bit of a pass.

[Ash]

I love that. It's like he wasn't like sparking intense serial killer vibes.

[Elena]

Just like there was light rumors, just

[Ash]

light serial killer, if there's even a whisper. Serial killer vibes. I'm getting a full like, like purge style.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Like press a button and I'm in like a metal box.

[Elena]

100. I actually would like access to that anyways.

[Ash]

Yeah, I would love that.

[Elena]

Whenever I've seen that movie, I'm like,

[Ash]

do I get that? How do I get that? I know.

[Elena]

So we're giving them a pass. Well, you are.

[Ash]

You are.

[Elena]

I'm not. We're not. Yeah. Leaves rustled, branches crunched. That same dude was absolutely in the tree. And they were catching glimpses of his face along with that familiar hair.

[Ash]

Oh, that gross face.

[Elena]

My dad, who even I know, honestly, even back in his heyday, was not exactly a terror inducing individual. Brandished good. Brandished a vacuum. A vacuum you gotta do.

[Ash]

Honestly, that might be good because it's so shocking shock value. Like you wouldn't think that vacuum. So you're Just like this guy's crazy. It might stop you with a vacuum.

[Elena]

It might stop you in your tracks. That's fair.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

And then you wrote, yes. Really?

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

And held it like a bat, whacking it out the window and yelling, hey, get out of here.

[Ash]

Good for him.

[Elena]

Better than nothing, I guess. But you think the man would be more strapped than you'd think the man would be more strapped than a Hoover. He defends. It was the closest thing with some oomph to it. K, dad. So again, the element of surprise dashed and the man took off. This time my parents called the police. They arrived, took statements and noted they'd do a sweep of the neighborhood. Nothing resulted from that. But the tree saw no more nighttime visitors. Fast forward to the day Richard Ramirez was arrested. And of course, his image was everywhere on tv. So my parents looked at each other wide eyed and said almost in unison, that was him. Now, my parents are long since divorced and didn't agree about much for years. But when I recently regaled my dad with memories of this tale from my mom, he was finishing sentences and noted it was something he'd never forgot.

[Ash]

Damn.

[Elena]

My beloved mom unfortunately died last year. I'm sorry. Gone way too soon. But I know she would have gotten a kick out of having this story shared on the podcast. She was a true crime and dark history gal through and through, and we would spend many an hour chatting about different stories and trading podcast and documentary recommendations. Miss you the most, Mom. I'm including a picture of me and her for you ladies to see, along with a few of my dog, who technically has nothing to do with this story, but everything to do with everything. And isn't she an angel face? Thanks for reading and keep it weird. Erica. Oh my God, that is a beautiful photo. And that dress. That. First of all, your dress is gorgeous. And your mom's dress is so pretty.

[Ash]

Your mom in that pixie cut is a sleigh.

[Elena]

And your hair on your wedding day, honey.

[Ash]

Oh, I love that picture.

[Elena]

Oh, and your dog does have everything to do with everything.

[Ash]

He does.

[Elena]

Look at the little tongue he has.

[Ash]

Has everything to do with everything.

[Elena]

This episode is actually brought to you by her dog.

[Ash]

Yes.

[Elena]

I love that.

[Ash]

Absolutely.

[Elena]

Oh, that was a crazy story though.

[Ash]

No, I hate that he was coming to your. And what kills me is that he saw the husband.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Got freaked out by the husband showing up, but then came back knowing he would be there. And he did that several times.

[Elena]

No, but that's the thing about him. That's why he was so scary. Because there was just like, nothing.

[Ash]

There was no limit. Yeah, yeah.

[Elena]

Oh, remember people said his breath smelled like wet leather?

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

He loved candy.

[Ash]

Stinky chops.

[Elena]

Ew.

[Ash]

He loved candy.

[Elena]

He did. Didn't he eat, like a lot of candy all the time?

[Ash]

The way you say.

[Elena]

You were like, he loved candy.

[Ash]

Ew. Like, that was the worst thing.

[Elena]

Because it's like that man loved a lollipop. Because picture Richard Ramirez eating, like, cabbage.

[Ash]

I don't know.

[Elena]

I was gonna say cabbage. Honestly, that's the same scariest thing you have ever.

[Ash]

Ah, I just pictured that. Just nomin on cabbage.

[Elena]

Batskins. He would.

[Ash]

He had, like, sharp teeth. Ew, I hate it.

[Elena]

Why did I say that?

[Ash]

God, you just created the most unsettling visual in my mind. Oh, no.

[Elena]

Somebody make that picture.

[Ash]

Oh, no.

[Elena]

Oh, man. I meant Sour Patch Kids.

[Ash]

I was wondering. I was like.

[Elena]

Were you saying cabbage like sour patch?

[Ash]

I was like, I don't think he was eating cabbage. That was part of his problem. He needed some cabbage. Oh, man.

[Elena]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

All right, so this next one is the story of a house in which a friend shouting, get out. He's in your bedroom. And a tater tot loving ghost meet up for one hell of an 80s mashup.

[Elena]

One of these things is not like the other. What a title. He's in your bedroom and a tater tot loving ghost.

[Ash]

Yeah, that's gonna be me when I'm a ghost.

[Elena]

I was literally just gonna say I'm

[Ash]

a tater tot loving person.

[Elena]

So heavy with a tater tot.

[Ash]

Hell yeah. In fact, you ever really like some.

[Elena]

A sweet potato tater tot? Oh, yeah, that slaps.

[Ash]

It really does.

[Elena]

All right, it's got tater tots for lunch.

[Ash]

Yeah. Period.

[Elena]

Period. Period.

[Ash]

First, but first first, I will gush, as have many before me, that you two are absolute unicorns. Thank you. Thank you.

[Elena]

I really got a unicorn.

[Ash]

Oh, is that.

[Elena]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Livy Dunn]

I don't know.

[Elena]

It just came to me.

[Ash]

I like that. Thank you. I really appreciate the compassion and care you put into each story. I feel that the victims are treated with respect and dignity and that your research is taught you right. And hell yeah.

[Elena]

Dave.

[Ash]

Dave. Thank you for being you, Elena. If I wasn't old as I would swear that you are my long lost sister. Because we think a lot alike. Anywho, keep doing what you awesome humans do. I have been listening for about three months and I'm already on episode 219. I'm obsessed. If you choose to read my story, I've changed the names and I am providing a pseudonym for myself. What happened in the 80s stays in the 80s.

[Elena]

What's the thing that Debbie said the other day? A pen de plume.

[Ash]

Oh yeah, I love that. A nom de plume.

[Elena]

Nom de plume. I knew it wasn't. I like nom de plume.

[Ash]

Nom de plume. The scene is 1982. I'm in college.

[Elena]

The beginning. The beginning of a decade.

[Ash]

See, she knows where things lie in a decade.

[Elena]

Don't worry about that. Numbers.

[Ash]

The scene is 1982. I'm in college and want nothing more than to not have to live at home in my life. Small ass. Watch the paint dry town during the summer. Some friends were renting a house for the summer on the outskirts of our college town somewhere in central Illinois. And I was all in. We envisioned a summer of fun and mayhem. By living on the outskirts of town, we could be as loud as we wanted and not bother towny neighbors. We of course, did not think about the fact that if no one could hear us, we might be excellent targets for humans who were up to no good. More on that later. So imagine 1982. Neither of you were born yet. I'm old as.

[Elena]

You're not that older than Alina.

[Ash]

Yeah, the hairspray alone in the bathroom of that house could kill you if the hair itself didn't poke an eye out. See? Ah, Aquanet, how I miss you. So I was more of a punk myself. Hell yeah, you were. But we had a whole spy. We had the whole spike thing going on. So, you know, still Lethal Weapon type stuff.

[Elena]

Oh, you know those like Liberty Spikes. Oh yeah. Those are so cool.

[Ash]

Those are cool. One night we threw a particularly hilarious and chaotic party that involved many of the things that the 80s are known for. I kid you not that at that party, someone took a mirror off our living room wall and made it snow. It really was a great time to grow up before we knew how bad many think these things were for us. And to have very little safety instructions other than to not eat candy that wasn't wrapped on Halloween or Cabbage Patch Kids. No, don't eat those. Don't do that.

[Elena]

Oh no.

[Ash]

Oh no.

[Elena]

The old is using the computer.

[Ash]

How to make it stop.

[Elena]

Oh, no. Hold on, hold on. The young is struggling too young.

[Ash]

I was born in the middle of a decade. Okay?

[Elena]

The young isn't so young anymore. The young is approaching a face. Hello. Hello.

[Ash]

Oh, look at that. I can see.

[Elena]

Yeah, I can actually. It's like at the eye doctor when they slide the lens and they're like, is this better?

[Ash]

I always act so relieved whenever it flips by. I'm like, oh, that's it. That's the step.

[Elena]

It's like last night. Oh, that's good.

[Ash]

That's good.

[Elena]

Oh, that's good.

[Ash]

Oh, that's good.

[Livy Dunn]

I'm Livy Dunn, All American gymnast and Vuori act athlete. When you travel and train as much as I do, you find happiness where you are on the mat or on the sand. Movement and comfort are essential. That's why I live in performance. Joggers by Viori made from Dream Net fabric that's made of 89% recycled materials, effortlessly soft and made to move as much as I do. My happiness starts here in the softest joggers on the planet. Get 20% off your first purchase at Vuori.com Libby that's V-U-O-R-I.com L I V-V-Y exclusions apply. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on US orders over $75 and free returns. Go to Vuori.com Libby and discover the full versatility of Vuori Clothing. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.

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[Elena]

Angie Hicks, co founder of Angie. One thing I've learned is that you buy a house, but you make it a home. For decades, Angie's helped millions of homeowners hire skilled pros for the projects that matter. Angie the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find a pro for your [e-mail].

[Ash]

By 3 or 4am, we all crashed in our various rooms and the party goers had gone home. Since I had not listened to your podcast yet because you were not Born. And I'm old as.

[Elena]

You're not that old.

[Ash]

I did not know that open windows are for dead people. It was a hot midsummer night. And then mood window, the windmill, the wind nest, the Midwest, where even the mosquitoes were too scorched to do more than look at us. So, yeah, all our windows were wide open. We had screens to keep out the bugs, so we reasoned that was good enough.

[Elena]

Oh, they have screens.

[Ash]

Yeah, they have screens. I should give you the layout of the house. There were three of us legally living there. The house was an old farmhouse with two stories. All the bedrooms were upstairs. Two people shared one room at the left of the stairs. One person had the room to the right, and I had the room in the middle. Back to that night. I'm awakened by my roommate Kyla, yelling at me, get out. Get out. He's in your bedroom. You better get out.

[Elena]

I get out.

[Ash]

Leave right now. Like, if I hear that, I'm just going into straight up cardiac arrest.

[Elena]

Yeah. Where do you go?

[Ash]

She's in your bedroom. Who?

[Elena]

Get your vacuum.

[Ash]

I sleepily jerk awake and look around. It's pitch dark because country and I can't see a thing. My heart is pounding in my throat and I feel like I'm gonna faint. I'm desperately thinking that I might run into whoever is trying to get me if I just barrel on out of there. Then my amygdala sucker punches my front lobes and says, run. Run. I should mention that my amygdala is aided by my friend still shrieking at the bottom of the stairs. Run, dumbass. He has a knife and I saw him go in there.

[Elena]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

What.

[Elena]

Why is your. What is your friend doing? What is anybody doing?

[Ash]

I sprint down the stairs faster than Usain Bolt, who also wasn't born yet old. Oh, my goodness.

[Elena]

You need to be nicer to yourself. I love you a lot.

[Ash]

I join my roomies on the front lawn who are discussing having heard and seen not one, but two men in our house.

[Elena]

No.

[Ash]

Another roommate, Maggie says that she was awakened by the sound of someone climbing through the window at the bottom of the stairs. I hate this a lot. She then heard them walking around the house, opening drawers and such. She thought she had heard them throwing something out of the window.

[Elena]

Was it Tater tots?

[Ash]

I'm. I'm waiting for the tater tots to

[Elena]

arrive because it's not.

[Ash]

It's scary. Maggie thought she should act all like she was. Like she was asleep.

[Elena]

She should act all asleep and hope

[Ash]

that they were just robbing us and would soon leave. Things change for her because honestly, as they say, if they come during the day, they're here for their stuff. If they're here for the. At the night, that really up. If they're here during the day, they're here for your stuff. If they're here at night, they're here for you.

[Elena]

They say that.

[Ash]

That's what my old criminal justice professor used to tell me. And I hung on to it because think about it.

[Elena]

No.

[Ash]

Why are they in your house in the middle of the night trying to steal your stuff? You're there, middle of the day, they're coming to get your.

[Elena]

I have an alarm system.

[Ash]

Yeah. Middle of the night.

[Elena]

Pew. You hear those dogs? Yeah, you hear those dogs? Dolores will chop your head off.

[Ash]

So things changed for her when she heard them clomping towards the stairs. We were lucky to have a phone extension upstairs, so she quietly called the police. She then waited until the humans. The humans went into my room, ran across the hall and got the other two roomies and they hightailed it downstairs with Kyla calling up, as Afro mentioned. So she waited until they went into your room.

[Elena]

Hey, you got it.

[Ash]

Are you still friends with them?

[Elena]

You got a plan?

[Ash]

Like what the.

[Elena]

She yelled for you.

[Ash]

The police showed up and went through the house. The screen in the window at the bottom of the stairs had either been cut or pushed in and the back door was open. The police figured that the humans ran down the stairs after I boogied and left through the back door. While we were waiting for the police in the front yard. God. Many things had been moved and a few drawers were open, but nothing was missing. Because they were there for you.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

The police tried to calm us down, but they didn't really have an answer for us when we asked if they weren't here to burgle us, then what did they want? They wanted you. The answer to that question was sitting like a stone in the bottom of my stomach. What would have happened if my roomie had not been awakened?

[Elena]

We wouldn't be reading this.

[Ash]

We remain terrified for a long time afterwards that these guys might come back to finish whatever fiendish and evil deeds they had planned for us that evening? I don't. But I don't think I could have stayed in that house.

[Elena]

I know I don't.

[Ash]

And I either. I don't blame you for staying there because obviously you don't always have options.

[Elena]

I think I would just drive around until morning.

[Ash]

Literally. I think I would become nocturnal. We did not sleep well and Started closing the windows downstairs at least our upstairs windows. Also for dead people. Discuss. Yes.

[Elena]

I literally said this to my grandma the other day. I was like, people have ladders.

[Ash]

And we just read a story about Richard Ramirez climbing up a tree together.

[Elena]

Exactly. They want you. They're gonna get you.

[Ash]

Yeah. The next weekend, everyone but me was going out of town. I was freaked. I invited all of my friends, especially my guy friends to come stay at the house that weekend. Until my friends arrived, I sat staring at the window and the door to the basement, expecting them to open at any time with a knife wielding maniac jumping out at me. I knew the basement did not figure into this story, but basements are creepy as fuck. So out of principle, I stared at that son of a bitch. Also honestly valid. My friends finally arrived and we got through the weekend. One problem with this situation is the one of my friends was so weird and probably on an acid trip that I was most likely more in danger from him than whatever else was out there. Damn. Needless to say, I made it through the weekend. Fast forward to about two weeks later. We were having a hectic morning jostling around each other as we each got ready for respective works and classes. Maggie comes into the kitchen where the rest of us are. Maggie is all pissed off. Maggie ran a little grumpy anyway, so she we just shrugged and continued what we were doing. She says who did it? And we say what? And she says who ate my fucking tater tots?

[Elena]

Oh, that's a crime now?

[Ash]

For more recent times, I would have said Napoleon Dynamite did it and she would have thrown something at me. In 1982, I said, Maggie, no one ate your damn tater tots. Everyone shrugged and went. Life went on. Although tot list for Maggie, which she continued to gripe about. That's fair. A few days later, Maggie was at it again. She said, where's my lasagna? Again she's met with blank looks from all of us. We're not above eating each other's food. But not this time. I began wondering if we had a ghost or a poltergeist. I have been a weird weirdo spooky my entire life. So it was a logical explanation for me.

[Elena]

It was logical to me.

[Ash]

Me too. Once again, I was afraid of my own house. A few days after the lasagna incident, some people came over who we sort of know.

[Elena]

It made me think of shit. I don't even know my own kid. I'm afraid of my own house.

[Ash]

I also like the lasagna incident. They Said they had been at a party where these two guys were talking about getting really drunk a few weeks back, blacking out, then waking up to find a bag of tater tots and a pan of lasagna sitting on their kitchen table. They said they had no idea where these items had come from.

[Elena]

Wait, so they came to your house to take your tater tots and your lasagna?

[Ash]

Our friends asked them if they had been at a party at our address. They said no, but that they used to live at our house.

[Elena]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

The friends asked them if by any chance they might have gone to our house in their blackout state, thinking they still lived there. One of the guys said he thought he remembered climbing through a window and running down a street.

[Elena]

How do you think you remember that? Oh, maybe I never. Maybe I ran down the street after I climbed through a wit. What?

[Ash]

The more they talked, they pieced together what happened.

[Elena]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

The guys were smashed. Thought they still lived at our house. Couldn't get in the front door, so did the next logical thing and broke through the screen on the window. They then stumbled around the house, running into furniture that wasn't where they thought it should be. They were hungry, so they looked in the fridge. It's funny because it's misspelled. It says the frig.

[Elena]

So they looked.

[Ash]

I don't know why that made me laugh.

[Elena]

No, it made me laugh, too.

[Ash]

Finding not much word there due to the party animals eating everything that wasn't still crawling. The frig was empty.

[Elena]

Oh.

[Ash]

But the freezer contained some delectable items. They threw said items out the window. What Maggie heard. Ran upstairs. Who knows why. Were freaked out to see people were there. Ran downstairs out the back door. Somehow they retrieved the tots and the lasagna along the way. Quite a feat for smash college students. No ghosts, no murderers. Just drunk guys out of their minds and craving a good top.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

Maggie never did apologize for blaming us. Continued. Ah, the 80s. Keeping it weird at all times. Violet.

[Elena]

Wow.

[Ash]

What the.

[Elena]

That was that. I love how it came full circle, though.

[Ash]

That's so 80s.

[Elena]

It really was.

[Ash]

So they just came back to a house they thought they lived.

[Elena]

That feels like a movie.

[Ash]

It really does.

[Elena]

I'm obsessed with that.

[Ash]

That was amazing.

[Elena]

But that must have been nice to find out in a weird way, because you were probably not afraid of your house anymore.

[Ash]

No murders, no.

[Elena]

No poltergeist.

[Ash]

No poltergeist.

[Elena]

Just.

[Ash]

But then you have to worry about these getting drunk again and thinking they live there.

[Elena]

I know.

[Ash]

Like that's a little scary.

[Elena]

That is a little bit scary. You remember where you live, like write it on your hand or something.

[Ash]

And also, Maggie, get it together.

[Elena]

Yeah, Maggie.

[Ash]

That's sad.

[Elena]

Or Maggie's sad. Yeah, Maggie is being sad.

[Ash]

She said sad way of living to be. To run grumpy.

[Elena]

To run grumpy.

[Ash]

And to never apologize for it. I don't apologize a lot, but I do when I'm mean.

[Elena]

You do apologize if you're grumpy. Yeah. All right. This one is called Spirit at the Salon. Hi Ash and Alina. This is Rob.

[Ash]

Hi Rob.

[Elena]

Hi Rob. I want to share a more light hearted story about a positive ghostly experience that helped me understand myself a bit better. Oh, names and specifics have been changed because toxic masculinity is a thing.

[Ash]

Sure is.

[Elena]

In the town where I grew up, I would often spend afternoons hanging out at my aunt's beauty salon down the street from the school while I waited for my mom to get home from work. I love that so much. When I tell you it was the 80s when you walked into the salon, you knew it. Wood grain cabinets and drawers, Pink painted walls.

[Ash]

Oh, hell yeah.

[Elena]

Shiny linoleum tile, pink vinyl covered chairs. Oh my God, those retro salon decals on the walls. You know the I do? Yep. The smell of perm solution soaked into every surface. I hated perm week at school. And a whole row of dryer hoods along the sidewall. Yes, most of them usually occupied by the regulars getting their weekly roller sets. Hell yeah. Very Steel Magnolia. I love that movie. Drink the juice, Shelby. I'd spent afternoons in the waiting room fighting the kind of extreme boredom that only a small child with more than 10 minutes of unoccupied time can feel. I colored read the same four comic books on the rack that never changed and entertained the old ladies who always told me I reminded them of their grandsons. Hell yeah, Rob. And eventually my aunt put a broom in my hands and set me to work getting that. That sweet free child labor out of me. One winter day when it was dark and the salon was closed, I was waiting for my aunt to clean up and take me home. I glanced at the picture window, which in darkness had become a big black mirror framed with frost around the edges. Despite the salon being empty other than my aunt in the back room, in the window's reflection, I saw a lady sitting in one of the dryer chairs. She had her hair in rollers and was draped in the salon's standard issue pink vinyl case. Confused, knowing the salon was closed, I turned around and there was no one there.

[Ash]

Oh, I love her. What a ghost.

[Elena]

Forever getting her hair done.

[Ash]

Forever doing self care.

[Elena]

Oh my God, forever. She's probably very warm. Good for her. I thought about her. I thought about telling my aunt, but I didn't want to say anything because I clearly just saw a ghost and saying it out loud would make that real. Very fair. I saw this lady more and more over the next few years. She was always in the same dryer chair, always only in the windows reflection after close. I eventually got the courage to bring it up to my aunt, but she has always been a very stern woman who never tolerated any shenanigans, mischief, tomfoolery, or monkey shines. Yeah, I've never heard of monkeys.

[Ash]

I couldn't live that way.

[Elena]

No.

[Ash]

Not tolerating any shenanigans, mischief, tomfoolery, or monkey shines.

[Elena]

Yeah, that's nuts. I'm all about that. I'm all about that too. I love tomfoolery. That's my middle name. She told me. Ash. Tomfoolery Kelly. She told me it was just my imagination and handed me some towels to fold. I've lost count of the number of towels I folded in my life. I bet. Same when you're an apprentice, all you do is wash, wash, wash, dry, dry, dry, laundry, laundry, laundry, fold, fold, fold, and then you pay some parking tickets.

[Ash]

Damn.

[Elena]

Ugh. Now, as I grew up and no longer needed a babysitter, I still visited the salon regularly, partly because I enjoyed the compliments that came along with being their resident handyman. More free labor. But mostly because I enjoyed flirting with the cute girls who would come in to get their hair done. And fellas, if a girl flirts with you while she's got a head full of perm rods and wearing a pink salon cape, then you know she trusts you. I had stopped seeing. That is super valid. I had stopped seeing the ghost lady and had mostly forgotten about the whole thing. But fast forward a few years and I'm home on break from college. I'm on a nostalgia tour around town, and I stop in the salon to say hi. At one point, I glanced at the big picture window and had a flash of remembrance, thinking of the ghost lady for the first time since I was little. I don't know where the idea came from, but I thought maybe I'd join that lady for old time's sake. That's adorable. Oh, my God. I don't know what was more embarrassing for me, asking my aunt to set my hair in rollers or knowing that I was doing it for a ghost. Wait, I love that. You literally did this for the ghost lady.

[Ash]

I'm obsessed with this.

[Elena]

It's so sweet that you just felt compelled to do that. That.

[Ash]

I love this.

[Elena]

I'm obsessed. I love this.

[Ash]

She showed herself to the right person.

[Elena]

Yeah, she did. She was so excited to do my hair. I'd been growing it out since college, and she clearly wanted to get her hands on it for quite a while. Soon enough, I was feeling awkward with my hair in curlers, wearing a pink cape of my own, and I sat myself down under the dryer right next to where the ghost lady always sat. Oh my God, I'm gonna cry.

[Ash]

I have, like, chills.

[Elena]

I'm actually gonna cry.

[Ash]

Yeah, I want love this.

[Elena]

I started asking her questions. I had years of experience talking to the salon lady, so I knew what they like to talk about.

[Ash]

Oh my God.

[Elena]

I asked her about where she grew up, her family, her pets, crafts and hobbies that she liked. I never heard any answers. Not that I could hear anything. Cuz those dryers are loud. As Am I, right? Yeah, they are. They are pretty loud. But as I talked, sitting in silence between questions to give her time to answer, I felt a growing sense of peace and tranquility.

[Ash]

I love this.

[Elena]

I can only describe it as the feeling you get when you're alone in nature, quietly enjoying the view during a very pleasant walk. I don't know if this lady ever was really there or if I if my keeping her company was helpful to her spirit in any way, but it certainly was helpful to mine. And as an aside, my hair looked incredible. Ladies, if you haven't tried an old school ruler set, you seriously gotta try it. The pinup waves it gives are unbeatable and they lasted for days. I love. I'm obsessed with you. Also, I love a pin curl set. I was literally teaching Debbie how to do pin curls. They were a little different this time, but long story long, no. No place feels like home to me as much as a quaint neighborhood hair salon. And everywhere I've lived, I've always searched for a friendly little salon with kind stylists and regulars who welcome me as one of their own. I may be the only CIS het male who has been st who has a standing appointment for a deep conditioning treatment and a roller set.

[Ash]

I love him a lot.

[Elena]

I'm in my 40s and I still have a full, healthy head of hair. Yes, because you done took care of it, baby. And I like to believe that part of the reason is the unnamed Ghost lady is my hair guardian angel. This is my favorite story we've ever received. This is my favorite story. She's watching over the hair. She's watching over my hair. The same way I looked up for her that day. Oh, my God, I love it. Thank you for your time. No, thank you for yours. And keep it weird. Just weird enough that you go to get your hair done with some old school curlers as a tribute to all the badass women who came before Rob, literally. I'm obsessed with you. That is this. I just spit everywhere. The sweetest tale we've ever received. I love that. Wow. That just made my whole day.

[Ash]

Rob forever.

[Elena]

We're done. Yeah.

[Ash]

That was it. That's the perfect ending.

[Elena]

Oh, my God, I love that tale so much. Wow, guys, it was the 80s. Yeah. I can't wait to wash my face and brush my hair. Yeah. I gotta tell you something. I've never, never felt more insane in my life. You look great. I liked being Krampus better. Yeah.

[Ash]

And Miranda Priestley.

[Elena]

Oh, I love. Yeah, that goes without saying.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

Oh, take me back to Miranda's.

[Ash]

I feel pretty comfortable. But you could stay like it. Out of the tight pants.

[Elena]

You could stay like that. And I don't think bunny people would question it.

[Ash]

Probably not.

[Elena]

No. I love it. All right, well, thank you guys so much for writing in your tales. If you have a tale and you want to write in, send them to morbidpodcastgmail.com. make sure to say hello to everybody

[Ash]

and title it Listener Tales. And then your tail.

[Elena]

And if there's. If there are any pictures or anything, just make sure you give us permission to share or tell us that you don't want them shared. Yes. Just like tell us either way.

[Ash]

Tell us.

[Elena]

Tell us. And I think that's it.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Elena]

All right. So we hope you keep listening and we hope you keep it weird, but not so weird that you don't go get a roller set with a ghost lady. Don't keep it so weird that you break into people's house and steal their tinker tots.

[Ash]

Like, that's insane. That's up. Those are mine.

[Elena]

You can't be doing that. No, it was the 80s, though.

[Ash]

It was the 80s. Lawless do.

[Elena]

Yeah. Don't keep it so weird that in the afterlife you assault somebody's grandma.

[Ash]

No, don't. You're talking about you, you pervial ghost old Joe.

[Elena]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Mr. Stelio.

[Elena]

Girl, you can't do that.

[Ash]

Don't do it.

[Elena]

And do not keep it so weird as to sleep with your upstairs bedroom door open and run into Richard Ramirez. He's dead now, but.

[Ash]

Or to be Richard Ramirez.

[Elena]

Don't ever keep it that way. Don't eat Cabbage Patch Kids.

[Ash]

Remember when he got the kicked out of him by an entire neighborhood, though.

[Elena]

That was pretty wild.

[Ash]

That was great.

[Elena]

That was awesome.

[Ash]

Google that, if you don't know already.

[Elena]

Yeah, it was the 80s.

[Ash]

It was.

[Elena]

Or was it the 90s? That was the. It might have been the 80s.

[Ash]

Oh, he was caught in 1985.

[Elena]

Oh my gosh. Okay, it was the 80s, so that's

[Ash]

why they get the out of him. Okay.

[Elena]

Period.

[Ash]

Get him out. All right.

[Elena]

Right. Well, we already said keep it weird, so. Bye.

[Ash]

I guess so.

[Elena]

Bye. Love you.

[Ash]

You're red.

[Elena]

Totally tubular.

[Angie Hicks]

Ever walk past a place for rent and wish you could just take a peek inside? Maybe even explore the layout? Envision the natural light streaming through the windows. Or plan where your vinyl record collection would go. At apartments.com you can. With tools like their 3D virtual tours, you can see the exact unit you could be living in. Really envision yourself in your new home. With apartments.com, the place to find a place.

[Elena]

Why have we asked our contractor we found on Angie.com to be our kids legal guardian? Because he took such good care when redoing our basement that we knew we could trust him to care for our kids.

[Angie Hicks]

We only met a month ago. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail].