Woman auctions father's ghost on EBay to ease young son's fears

[3dGameMan]

Woman auctions father's ghost on EBay to ease young son's fears: ~source (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2004/12/04/765798-ap.html)

HOBART, Ind. (AP) - A woman's effort to assuage her six-year-old son's fears of his grandfather's ghost by selling it on EBay has drawn more than 34 bids with a top offer of $78 US.

Mary Anderson said she placed her father's "ghost" on the online auction site after her son, Collin, said he was afraid the ghost would return someday. Anderson said Collin has avoided going anywhere in the house alone since his grandfather died last year.

In a description titled "This isn't a joke," Anderson told Collin's story on EBay:

"I always thought it was just normal kid fears until a few months ago he told me why he was so scared. He told me 'Grandpa died here, and he was mean. His ghost is still around here!' "

Lest the boy's fears scare off potential bidders, Anderson added, "My dad was the sweetest most caring man you'd ever meet."

Some of the prospective buyers have posted their own messages.

"Your story brought tears to my eyes," one bidder said. "I just wonder how this will turn out for your son. I'm sure his grandfather loved him very much."

Anderson also put her father's metal walking cane up for auction so she would have something to actually send the winning bidder. The proceeds from the auction will go to buy Collin a special present, she said.

Anderson makes one special request of the winner bidder: "I would like to ask you to write a letter after you've received the cane (and the ghost) to my son letting him know that he's there with you and you're getting along great."

The bidding is due to close Monday afternoon.

A message left with San Jose, Calif.-based EBay Inc. in San Jose, Calif., was not immediately returned Saturday.

[PattmynX]

Awww thats soo sweet a mother would do that for her child :o

[2JSC]

and here is the link if you want to see

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1467&item=5541302159&rd=1

[egarrard]

They should send a picture of Gramps along with the cane, so he can be photoshopped into a picture somewhere to show the boy that he's gone. Make him semi-transparent... :rofl2

[efernandez_98]

$65,000.00?!!

~source (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6651230/)

INDIANAPOLIS - An online casino offered $65,000 Monday for a metal walking cane that an Indiana woman put up for sale in hopes her son would believe his grandfather’s ghost would leave their house with it.

GoldenPalace.com will add the “ghost cane” to a collection that already includes a grilled cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary. The Antigua-based casino paid $28,000 last month for the sandwich, which it bought — like the cane — on eBay.

“It’s just the new Americana thing,” said Monty Kerr, a spokesman for the online casino.

Kerr said the cane — which Mary Anderson auctioned to ease her 6-year-old son Collin’s fears that his grandfather’s ghost was haunting their home in Hobart — likely will go on tour like the famous sandwich.

The cane — and the story behind it — attracted 132 bids, dozens of imitators and landed the Andersons on NBC’s “Today” show Monday.

“It becomes a pop culture phenomenon,” said Hani Durzy, an eBay spokesman. “It may be just a few days or whatever, but it’s all everybody is talking about.”

San Jose, Calif.-based eBay Inc. does not allow sellers to offer intangible items such as spirits or souls where delivery cannot be confirmed, said Durzy. He said Anderson’s auction made it clear that she was selling her late father’s metal walking cane as a ploy to ease her son’s fears.

Anderson made one request of the winning bidder: “I would like to ask you to write a letter after you’ve received the cane (and the ghost) to my son letting him know that he’s there with you and you’re getting along great.”