Celestra's Ghost

By Michael Barr Mossman

Celestra’s Ghost is a story about Eric Rossman growing up in a small town before World War II. However, Eric is soon transported in a new direction. An unexpected trip to Paris, France, sets the tone for dramatic changes in his life.
Kathleen O’Connell, called Catty, is a beautiful soprano. Her life is centered not only on music but also on the production of fine French wine. Catty is engaged to a man she does not love, and he becomes a troublesome source for the two lovers. To make matters worse, Eric’s world is torn apart when the Nazis invade France.
It was thought that the Nazis had killed Catty, but Eric holds out hope that she is still alive. His search to find Catty is at first unsuccessful—until he is fortified in his quest by the angelic presence of a magical princess named Celestra.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728337005

Michael Barr Mossman

Michael Barr Mossman was born in Alton, Illinois. He served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. Mr. Mossman attended St. Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and received a Master’s Degree from Oklahoma University at Norman. Mr. Mossman spent thirty-three years in the fields of Elementary and Special Education. He and his wife Barbara, are currently residing in Orange Park, Florida.

Book preview

CELESTRA’S

GHOST

MICHAEL BARR MOSSMAN

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2019 Michael Barr Mossman. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse  11/20/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3701-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3700-5 (e)

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Contents

Introduction

Foreword, by Dr. Scott Rutherford

About the Author

Introduction

The following is a story about the life of Eric Rossman. Eric Rossman was a young man with some interesting tales about his childhood. The story is recorded in Eric’s own words. The reader can read about Eric’s childhood early in the story.

At first, the story appears to be reminiscence about life in a boy’s youth, but that is only the beginning. Eric’s early life does not initially predict the bizarre events that are to come.

As Eric grows older, his life takes on some very unusual twists. The story transports the reader in a new direction.

Eric was born in Bluff City, Illinois. Bluff City was a conservative river town. His life changed by attending college in Alabama. Then, Eric was influenced by trips to Florida, New Orleans, and California, but an unexpected trip to Paris, France, set the tone for a dramatic turn in his life.

In Paris, he meets the woman of his dreams. Kathleen O’Connell, called Catty, is a beautiful girl with light-brown hair and blue eyes. She is a talented soprano and is well liked by the Paris opera audiences. At first Kathleen seems distant, but as time goes on, Eric and Kathleen begin to fall in love.

Eric is introduced to the glamorous world of Kathleen O’Connell. It is an opulent culture centered not only on music but also on the production of fine French wine. However, Kathleen is engaged to a man whom she does not love. His name is Marcel Becaud, and he becomes a source of trouble for the two lovers. To make matters worse, Eric’s newfound life of bliss is torn apart as the Nazis invade France and he is taken to a concentration camp.

Kathleen comes to rescue Eric from the camp. He later escapes from occupied France and makes his way back to the United States. Once he returns home to America, Eric joins the US Army and again finds himself in Europe. This time Eric is fighting the Nazis. He courageously fights the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Eric returns to southern France. There, he seeks to find his true love.

However, through certain events, Eric has been led to believe that the woman of his dreams has been killed. A coffin thought to contain the body of Kathleen has been returned home. Kathleen’s funeral and burial take place, and Eric is informed about the bad news.

Celestra encourages Eric not to abandon his quest to find Kathleen. Eric is not unfamiliar with Celestra. Her identification is made known to him after he discovers an ancient text in the stacks of an old Benedictine library. He discovers that Celestra was a mythical goddess in ancient Europe. For some unknown reason, she appears to Eric as an angel at his side––someone to comfort and aid him through his life. However, as he gets older, her presence becomes more frequent and dramatic. Her image remains a spiritual presence that stays with him for his entire life.

Foreword, by Dr. Scott Rutherford

My name is Scott Rutherford, and I am a professor of anthropology at Greenwich University in London, England. I am known for my association with the Historical Society of London. Most of my work centers on the study of life in ancient Europe. I want to inform the reader about my research on ancient mythical figures.

Eric Rossman came to London to see me. He had heard of my work and thought his story would interest me. I invited him to my home so I could hear his story. I found him to be a very interesting man. I had the opportunity to meet with Eric and his wife when they were here visiting London. I found Mr. and Mrs. Rossman to be warm, sincere, and intelligent people. I liked them very much.

I have had the opportunity to hear Kathleen-O’Connell Rossman sing in the Paris Opera House. Kathleen is a well-known soprano and is especially noted for her outstanding interpretation of Tatiana from the production La Traviata. I had an autographed photo of Kathleen-O’Connell long before I had ever heard of Eric Rossman. It is very interesting how Eric’s story relates to my research.

I would like to comment on Eric’s tale as it relates to his mentioning of the ancient mythical goddess figure named Celestra. My comments are not made to substantiate Celestra’s appearance in the life of Eric Rossman. I am only relating what I have found through my research about this mysterious character.

My first discovery of this character came as a result of the unearthing of an ancient manuscript from Anglo-Saxon England. The manuscript told the story of a princess who had magical powers. This princess used her powers for good, and she was loved by the common folk. The manuscript described how she entered the lives of powerful knights and led them down the right path.

Other manuscripts described Celestra’s beauty and charm. She is described as mesmerizing. It is something similar to the legend of Helen of Troy and the face that launched a thousand ships. She apparently was reported to be the daughter of several ancient kings. It is uncertain as to which king was really her father. However, her legend probably started with King Mark.

Celestra’s name also appears in German and French manuscripts; however, no one document can truly substantiate her existence. She remains somewhat of a mythical character, whose legend has been handed down mainly through oral tradition.

Celestra’s main legend is as follows: She appears to a certain person and helps that person to open his or her heart. She is sort of a female Eros, because she shoots an arrow of love into one’s heart. She awakens the heart that had been previously closed. Then she helps the person find a love that has been neglected or lost.

However, Celestra also acts as an angelic presence. She provides great comfort and support. She physically appears to the person and assists them in their plight to find the one that he or she loves. The person that she helps always becomes attracted to Celestra. She always enthralled those who fell under her spell. However, in the end, Celestra evokes a great spiritual awaking and changes one’s life for the greater good.

How many lives she has touched is unknown. Why a certain individual is chosen is also unknown. Tales of Celestra could have existed in pre-historic history. However, recorded stories of her intervention begin around AD 905. She has traveled down the ages from that period. Eric Rossman’s tale cites one of her more modern interventions.

I came upon an old German manuscript that might be of interest to the reader. It was uncovered in Hanover. It tells of an old Teutonic legend of a mystical princess. The god, referred to as the Great Hy Dee Dee, was most likely derived from the Heidelberg area, but the Spree River could be related to another river in the south. I will relate it to you as it was deciphered:

There was once a beautiful young princess that lived near the Spree River, in Germany. She was named Narry, and she possessed great charm and beauty. A young man named Elbray fell in love with her, but because of differences in their social positions and circumstances, Elbray was not able to reach her.

The Great Spirit was known as the Great Hy Dee Dee. He was smitten by Narry’s beauty, so the great Hy Dee Dee left his castle window overlooking the Spree River. He brought Narry up to the top of the highest mountain so she could enter heaven’s door. But Narry refused to enter without Elbray, whom she knew truly loved her. The Great Hy Dee Dee could not pull Narry through the door because the bond of her love for Elbray was too strong. The Great Spirit decided to give Narry another chance so she could enter the door with Elbray under a favorable star.

However, Elbray was given many trials and hardships to prove his love for Narry. He had to fight invaders who sought to take over the land. He was also captured and thrown into a dungeon, and forced to swim across a dangerous sea. Seeing this, Narry was saddened by all Elbray had to endure because of her love. She pleaded with the Great Hy Dee Dee to send Elbray some spiritual help; therefore, the great Hy Dee Dee agreed to allow an angel to assist Elbray. Her name was Celestra, and she was the most beautiful angel in the spirit realm. So the great Hy Dee Dee asked Celestra to visit Elbray and to aid and comfort him throughout his ordeals. Because she was the angel of love, Celestra agreed to do this.

In the end, Elbray proved his love for Narry through his kind acts and the completion of all of the hardships thrown his way. The great Hy Dee Dee was happy to let Narry return to the Spree valley to be with Elbray. After many years, Elbray and Narry entered heaven’s door together. Their spirits remained together for eternity and are now dancing through the night sky among the stars. The great Hy Dee Dee was pleased, and the Angel Celestra went on to perform many more marvelous tasks.

That was the legend as we found it. I hope that this information will shed some light on Eric Rossman’s story. In my opinion, there is always a fine line between myth and reality. But I believe that many myths have some basis of truth.

Eric’s story flows like a stream of consciousness thought. He just sat down with me for a conversation and related memories as they came back to him. Of course, it is all building up to Celestra and her mythical presence in his life. We sat down in the patio on a warm summer evening. His wife was performing in an opera that evening, so it was just the two of us sitting alone. Eric Rossman related his memories to me while we enjoyed our hot tea. He told me the story of his life. I switched on a tape recorder and allowed him to talk without interruption. This is his story as he related it to me.

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G lad to get to

know you, Dr. Rutherford. I’m happy to tell you the story of my life. I decided to think of Celestra as a ghost because of the way in which her vision has influenced my life. I don’t know what else to say about it, so I’ll just begin by telling the story in my own words. It all begins very early in my life.

Bluff City, Illinois, is a historic place. It is located across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. Bluff City was founded on the bluffs of the Mississippi River as a ferry site for travelers heading west. The first inhabitants made their mark on the land as they lived and hunted in the rich bluffs and valleys. Later, inhabitants made the city grow.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the city was booming with industry. It had the glassworks, the steel mill, and the boxboard factory. It even had a place called Western Cartridge, where they made ammunition. I haven’t been back to Bluff City for a long time, but I don’t think those industries are still there.

The city itself is beautiful and has a unique signature all its own, with steep hills, tall bluffs, and red-brick streets. Those times and places have left many memories in my mind. As a youth, I walked up the hills of the city and climbed the bluffs overlooking the river. So while I don’t live in Bluff City now, it remains a part of my life. Since this is the story of what happened to me and how Celestra came to influence my life, I’ll start with growing up there.

I was born in Bluff City in 1920. Wilfred Redmond, my dad, died of rheumatic fever when I was very young. He had a staph infection that continued to worsen. In those days of no antibiotics, there was nothing anyone could do. My baby sister and I were left fatherless. After he died, my mother took us to live with her parents in Woodville, Illinois. Grandpa and Grandma Barns became a part of my life.

My sister, Mary, and I lived in Woodville until I was seven years old, when Mom remarried and we moved back to Bluff City. My stepdad was named Edward Rossman. He worked at the Illinois Glass Factory, which was located down on South Broadway. My birth father, Wilfred Redmond, had worked at the Redmond Textile Mill. He and his brother Bob inherited the mill from their father, George. The business had been in the family since before the Civil War. Elias Redmond had started it in Massachusetts, and his grandson, Rance, carried it on in Pittsburgh after the war. The business finally moved to Bluff City when industry started to boom in Illinois. Uncle Bob took over after George died, but my dad did not live long enough to really get started in the business.

There was a third brother, Lee, who did not want to work in the textile business. He moved to California and decided to make his mark in the movie industry. I always admired my Uncle Lee. I thought it was brave of him to go off on his own and try to make it in California.

Uncle Bob had a son, Robert Junior, known as Bobby Lee. Uncle Bob promised both of us a place in the family business when we were old enough. My uncle also set up a trust fund for me, explaining that this was the money my father would have made had he lived to earn it. Uncle Bob was kind to my mother and always there if she needed help.

My stepfather had a son from a previous marriage. There weren’t many blended families in those days, so the kids in our third-grade class at St. Patrick’s didn’t understand how Dale Rossman and I could be brothers. Mary was younger and didn’t face the same problem—she had no siblings with other names at her school. My mother thought it would be easier if I took my stepfather’s name. Therefore, Mary kept the name Redmond, but at age eight, I became Eric Rossman.

Classes at St. Patrick’s were taught by a strict order of nuns, led by Mother Pauline. She was a rather short, older nun of German descent who had been teaching in Catholic grade schools for many years. Her methods of teaching included strict discipline and corporal punishment. I have never thought that I was hurt by the discipline, but I will never forget the influence she had on us. We were taught good Christian values.

One incident served as an omen of things to come. There was a girl named Beverly Barry who used to clean the church altars for Mother Pauline. She and another girl reported that they had seen one of the statues move. They told Mother Pauline that the statue of the Blessed Mother appeared to have moved her hands. Mother Pauline dismissed the incident as a simple case of blurred vision, and nothing more was said about it.

I decided to check it out for myself. In those days, churches were always unlocked, and one could enter at any time.

I entered the church one dark night and positioned myself at the statue of the Blessed Mother. After five minutes of hard staring, I observed nothing. I decided to say a prayer and leave. As I raised my head, I was shocked to see a woman’s face in place of the Blessed Mother’s—a ghostly face, but the woman appeared to be real. The whole incident was very strange and hard for me to understand. I ran out of the church and never told anyone about it. However, much later in life, I was to meet the woman whose face appeared to me!

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After graduating from St. Patrick’s School, I planned to attend Father Marquette High School in the fall. I went down to the Crew Cut Barber Shop on Ridge Street and got the cut for which the shop was named. That was the popular haircut of the day. Then I went over to John’s Confectionary and had a cherry Coke from the soda fountain. Wayne Harley, Pat Allen, and my stepbrother, Dale, came in. We decided to play some basketball on the outdoor playground at St. Patrick’s. We played all summer and for a long time after. We continued to play pick-up basketball and football long after we graduated from high school, until we all went into the service.

Tim Ryan, Don Lytle, and I often went swimming in the notorious Blue Pool, where actually the water was a greenish-blue. The Blue Pool was a body of water nestled in the bluffs and filled by an underground spring that flowed from the nearby Mississippi River. Tim Ryan and I had been swimming there several times before Don Lytle joined us. We had to climb over a big fence to get in the Blue Pool. We were not supposed to be there. It was private property and deemed not to be safe. Don had been in trouble for breaking into buildings and fighting in school, so he was no stranger to doing questionable things. There were many stories and legends about the Blue Pool, chief among them the football players who dove into the pool while wearing their helmets, which split open on the rocks under the water, killing them all. The pool was also said to have no bottom. Freight cars supposedly disappeared into the depths below. I remember our Boy Scout leader telling us that he once swam to an underwater cavern and came out in a limestone room that was lit by sunlight from a portal above.

I saw nothing like an underwater cavern when Tim, Don, and I swam there. We dove from an overhanging cliff but were rarely in danger. In fact, the only time I remember being in danger while swimming is when the three of us made an attempt to swim across the Mississippi River. Tim and Don got in the stream near the Blue Pool. I was hesitant and decided to stay back. But then I spotted an old log floating in the water and grabbed for it. Holding onto it, I swam out hoping to catch up with Tim and Don, but they were too far away. I didn’t think I could make it and decided to let go of the log and swim back to shore.

After several minutes of swimming, I had become disoriented. I looked up and discovered that I had drifted farther out. Determined to make it back to shore, I put my head down in the water and swam with all my might. But the current was strong, and when I looked up again, it had carried me still farther out. I began to panic. My strength was waning, and for a while I thought I was going to drown.

All of a sudden, I heard a woman’s voice in the wind. Swim with the current, the voice seemed to say. I did, and the current pushed me toward the shoreline. I stayed with the current and reached the shore in no time—but a mile from where I started, and my two friends were nowhere to be found. Had the current been too strong for them?

I was able to hitch a ride back down the river road into Bluff City. Later, I learned that they had made it across the river and were able to hitch a ride back with a man heading over the Bluff City Bridge. However, the current had pushed them so far down that they were almost swept under the Bluff City Lock and Dam. I considered us all very lucky in our river escapades. I did not tell anyone about the strange voice. At that time, I didn’t know what to think.

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My freshman year at Father Marquette was uneventful. I just didn’t fit in. I was too young for my class, and I couldn’t pass any of my classes. My mom called a tutor to help me with math. The tutor helped a little, but to this day I am terrible in math. I went out for football and got to play in some freshman games. But I wasn’t very good and didn’t get any respect from my team members. I considered quitting football. But I stuck it out with the Father Marquette River man team until the end of the season.

Freshman year in