The true story I am about to relate to you is one that will seem to be amazing. One thing I can say I relive this every day of my life. It has both positive and negative affect on my direction in life. So with out any further explanation I will go into the events that took place over a 3 month period.

May 21,1979 (South of I70 in Louisiana)

I lived in a small house in a wooded area not that I was a recluse but I felt I would be more at ease in a quit place. I spent 20 years in the military and ever sense Vet-nam I always looked for quit areas to live in. This was an Ideal spot about a half mile down the dirt road was a lake that was teaming with bass and other fish. I worked at odd jobs during this period of time. I kept to myself never got into any trouble, on this march day I was sitting on the porch just taking it easy. I decided I would walk down to the lake and do some fishing. Their was one spot I always caught my limit at. I got to the lake and the first thing I noticed across the lake was an older man fishing with a cane poll. They say you catch twice as many fish with a cane poll. I settled down and started to fish Lit up a cigarette and just kicked back. The way I was relaxing I could watch my poll and just beyond the poll I could see the old guy across the lake. He was pulling them in like they were going out of style.

Still I had not caught anything not long I had a bite and a fish on the line I pulled it in it was a nice bass. I tossed out my line and sat back still watching the old guy across the lake. He was still catching fish one right after another. He must have caught 6 of every one I caught. Soon I was getting curious as to what he was using for bate. So I stood up and started to make my way around the lake. The under brush was thick I finally got around to were the old man was at. But their was not any path or walk way to get were he was at. I came to the area where he was at and their was no one their. At that point I figured he just moved I looked around and still could not see him. So I figured he had just left so I headed back to where I was fishing at. When I got to were my stuff was at I noticed my fish holder had 5 fish on it. This really confused me because I only caught 1 bass, not sure where the others came form. I have learned never to look a gift horse in the mouth so I took the line and gathered up my gear and left.

Once I got back to my house I cleaned the fish and fixed them for dinner. The whole time I was wondering were the other fish came from.

May 27, 1979

It had been raining off and on for the past two days. I did some work at a lumber yard in Lafayette I was tired. It was around 4 in the afternoon. So I headed back to the lake, I got to the spot I fish and settled in and started to fish. In just a few mins I had one. Then a few mins later I had another. Luck was with me today. When I tossed my line back out I saw the old guy once more this time he was to the left of me fishing. As I watched him he started catching fish just like the last time I was here. He looked at me and waved So I waved back. He started to work his way towards me I figured I would just stay put besides I wanted to know what he was using for bate. As he got closer I could tell he was very old in his 80s.

He said Son mine if I join you . I said no not at all have a seat. He sat down and introduced him self. His name was Jackson. We started talking and I noticed he was wearing some rather odd cloths looked like he was wearing long johns and gray wool pants with suspenders and an old pair of boots. I asked him are you from around here Jackson. He told me he lived here all his life. I asked him what he was using for bait he looked at me and smiled I am using bacon fat. Now that caught me by surprise Here I am using Worms. He showed me how to cut the bacon fat so it looks like a worm. He was catching fish as fast as he could toss his line out. He stood up and said whelp need to get back talk to you next time. I told him take it easy he seemed like a nice old guy. He started to walk away around the lake I tossed my line out and looked over to see were he was at and he was gone. I stood up I was just looking at him a second earlier either this old guy was fast or I missed something. I walked around a bit to see if I could see him and nothing.

June 10, 1979

Storms were moving through the area today Lightning every were. Thank god for my military retirement or else I would have been out side in this mess. I was not able to get any work for about two weeks funds were low. So I packed up the old truck and headed into town to see if I could land an odd job. I got some work at a bar restaurant cleaning tables. Not a bad job it included free meals and had a fair wage. I got home around 9pm that night tired and worn out. I stepped up on the porch and sat down in the chair to relax a little. The sun was going down there is nothing like a sunset in Louisiana the land takes on a totally different form. The moss hanging from the trees turns into a dancing streamers as the wind blows through them. The sounds are true nature the frogs croaking and the scream of the swamp owl. I must of fallen asleep I woke up it was 11 pm. I went in side and on the floor at the door was a note. I picked it up it just said I missed you at the lake today? The only thing I could think of was the old guy. Which was strange because I did not tell him where I lived.

June 15,1979

Had the day off from work today figured I would sleep in and go down to the lake. I got to the lake and set up to do some fishing. Next thing I knew some one said hello Son I looked around it was Jackson the old man. He walked over and sat down we talked for a long time about nature and the lake and weather. I asked him if he left me the note the other night. He said yup that was me. Then I said how did you know were I lived. He asked me how many other people fish this lake? He had a point! And besides yours is the only house around here for miles. I asked him were he lived. He told me with a smile every where. I said come on Jackson you got to have a house. Oh I do but it is deep in the woods. I figured he did not want to tell me so I left it go at that. He ask me if I was in the war. I told him yes I was. He said I bet it was tough I told him it affected me to the point to were I don’t want to have any contact with people any more. He said Son it is not easy to witness such atrocities that people bring on them self’s. I told him it is not I still dream about it at times. He said well just remember it was for a cause that you may not fully understand now but later could be for the good. I told him their can never be good from war. He smiled and said I agree

.

I asked him were you ever in the service. He looked at me and said he was in the 1st Calvary Detachment. Right off I figured he was talking about WWII. I asked him if he ever got to Germany he looked at me and Just laughed. Nope never had a need to go to places like that. I started thinking something was not right the detachment he was in spent a lot of time over seas.

Whelp Jackson said I need to run I will be back later. I said ok We will talk another time. With that he started to walk away. I kept thinking who this old guy was. As I stood up I looked and he was gone. This old coot is fast he must run to every where he goes. I got my gear together and headed home, I just kicked back and relaxed and then went to bed I had to be at work at 9am.

June 23, 1979

It has been a hard day at work. A group of us were finished with work and just sitting at the bar talking. They asked me where I lived I told them down off Route 4 about 30 miles from here. One guy looked at me and said oh you must be next to buck lake. I said if that is the lake that is up from my house yes I fish their a lot. Jack the guy I was talking too said hmm that is an interesting spot and good fishing. I agreed it was good fishing and interesting. Then out of the blue he asked me if I had seen anything their. I looked at him and asked what did he mean? He told me that there is a story about that lake that never seems to go away.

Well what is the story I asked? He told me that the as the story goes their use to be a house that was on the east side of the lake. It was build back in 1850 owned by an guy by the name of Tom Jackson. That he went to the civil war and while in the war was wounded. He returned home and his house was destroyed by the union forces. As the story goes Tom Jackson would walk around were his house use to be. And swore he would never leave it. About 5 months later they found him in the rubble of the house dead. He died of an illness that was not determined at that time. And to this day it is said he can still be seen around the lake still wearing the cloths he was found dead in. Well I must say I about came out of my boots when I heard this. Jack looked at me and said what is wrong I looked at him and said nothing. He said man your white as snow are you ok. I told him yes I am fine just tired from a long day at work.

So I decided it was time to leave and headed home. During the drive home I kept thinking about the story that tom told me. It really rattled my nerves. I got home and went inside and just went right to bed I was off the next two days. That morning I woke up and made a pot of coffee and just stayed around the house it was a great day not too hot and a nice breeze blowing. I would have been a great day to go to the lake and do some fishing. But I was still rattled about the story Jack told me the night before. I stayed away from the lake for about three weeks.

July 4, 1979

This is independence day and no plans of course that is the norm for me. I tend to stay away from fireworks sense the war. But I am getting better they don’t bother me as much as they use to. I decided I was going to do some fishing today. If Jackson is their then I need to probe him with questions to determine if it is the same guy that Jack was talking about.

So I got my stuff together and headed out to the lake I got to my old fishing spot and set things up and just sat back. And sure enough in about 20 mins their was Jackson walking over to where I was at he was still wearing the same cloths I had seen him in every time we have met. Hello Son I said howdy he pulled up a seat and sat down. He asked me were I have been for the past few weeks. I told him I was taking care of business. I did not want to tell him I was nervous about meeting him. Whelp it is sure nice to have you back around. The swamp Owls are not much on conversation. I just laughed, tell me Jackson how long Have you lived in these parts. Well son I guess we have known each other for a while. (I was thinking at this point the story is going to come out so I put my pole down and listen intently to Jackson.

Son have you ever though so much about something that it came to past? Hmm he had me on this one but I kind of understood where he was going. Well I was in the war and all I could think about was coming home to my farm and these swamps and my beautiful wife. When I got back the farm was gone the house was burned to the ground and wife was no where to be found. I asked neighbors and they told me that the Union forces came in and burned the house they did not see what happened to Mary. I have been looking for her ever sense. That was a long time ago I said trying not to let on I had figured out he was a ghost. I said Jackson I am sure she misses you as much as you miss her. Oh I know she does Jackson said our love Was like the sun that warms the day. It will never go out I need to find Mary he said. I looked at him and I could see a tear forming in the corner of his eye.

Son I think it is time for me to go. I said ok Ill see you in a few days. No he said you don’t understand it is time. I said time? Yes I need to leave as he said that the tear rolled slowly down his cheek. I said Jackson I did not mean to bring up bad memories. He told me no you did not do that this is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I just did not want to give up hope. About this point I was getting totally confused. He stood up and brushed him self off and straighten up his cloths and turned to me and said. If there is ever one thing you ever remember let it be this. Don’t ever give up Life is too short be your own man don’t let fools guide your path.

I just looked at him thinking what a profound statement to come out of an old swamp hermit. All of a sudden a bright light appeared just to the left of Jackson bathing him in a bright white warm light. I was Totally dumbfounded. Jackson was turned towards me smiling I could see a figure in the light it was a woman then I heard her softly call out. Jackson please come home Jackson turned and said softly Mary my love it is you. He walked to her and embraced her I could feel the love all around. They turned to me and both smiled at me and waved then the light started to dim. I yelled out to them good buy till next time.

Sense these events my life has not been the same. I am more at peace with my myself than I ever have been. I now live in an area that has people all around me I enjoy meeting new people all the time. The Old fisherman taught me more than I have learned in a life time. As he said Life is too short be your own man don’t let fools guide your way.