I finally got through to the American Consulate in Frankfurt. I’ll tell you right here and now, I do not ever want to be a clerk in any government facility. If the primary job requirement isn’t a kind of slow patience mixed with a cranky, world-weary attitude, then dealing with average folks like me puzzling through the labyrinthine logic and vague instructions that come with form-filling is enough to break anyone’s spirit in no time.
I never feel so stupid and such a bother to anyone as I do when I have to deal with window clerks in government buildings. Well, almost never.
But, my questions were answered, and I’m feeling much relieved to have this part done, and the day has shown to be a profitable one. Because, not only have I substantively concluded that I never want to be a government clerk, I also have decided that when I grow up, I want to be a paranormal investigator. Okay, that doesn’t sound very grown up—especially for a 35-year-old with family to take care of.
I came to this decision after stumbling across this website, The Shadowlands. Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve wanted to do something like this for quite a while, now, and have always maintained an interest in the paranormal. Always. But when I downloaded some ghostly sounds from this site and played them back on my computer, I was captivated. And I knew for sure that’s what I want to do.
Do paranormal investigators even make a living at what they do? Or do they squeeze it in between clocking out at the office and slipping into their cozy ghost-free beds at night? What kind of training do these people have? What qualifications are required, if any? Where in the Chicagoland area can I get such training and qualification, and find a group to hang with? I don’t know.
I think I have a lot of, well, erm, investigating to do…
