Addressing the question: Do you get paid, and why do I do it?

The simple answer is no, I do not get paid for paranormal investigating.  My payments come from helping people.  I am a wife, mother and regular member of society.  I get up and begin my day like other people.  Once people meet me, they say, I am not what they expected.  I am really not sure what that means to this day.  I wonder if they thought I would have bright green hair, a tambourine, and magical powers.  Or maybe, some type of trap for capturing ghosts or a vehicle with a siren like in the 1980's movie Ghost Busters, perhaps.  I recall a case where the husband was adamant he was not going to be any part of an investigation.  He did not want to be home when we arrived, nor did he want to meet us.  His wife was so apologetic for his absence.  As the team was setting up the equipment the husband came home.  He ended up staying all night.  He said he was so relieved and happy to see we were all normal.  My question from that day has been, "What exactly is normal?"  I have come to believe it is whatever a person’s personal beliefs and thoughts may be.  Everyone’s definition of normal is different. 

Having a successful and sound running team is very time consuming.  It is also costly to keep the operation running to ensure maximum support is available to the community.  There is a lot to consider before just jumping in a starting a team.  Paranormal investigating is like anything else; you must educate yourself and understand what you are doing.  The learning process takes years and you never learn everything there is to know.  If you ever reach the point of thinking you know it all, you are in the wrong field.  I have seen the following time after time.  People throw up a website, go out and visit "alleged" haunted sites, and we call them an investigator.  There is so much more to it.

What I giggle about is those who claim to have 15, 20, 30 plus years, yet they are in their 30's.   Let’s be honest here, running around with a flashlight, camera, and digital recorder capturing "orbs, light refractions, and "ghost" voices will not cut it.  My best times have been spent learning from those who have the experience and solid background in the field.  You have to be responsible and use some common sense.  Do not feed in to the surrounding and those you may be with.  Take all the past stories, claims, and experiences in to account however, do not feed into them.  I have seen mass hysteria happen on so many investigations.  If you are an investigator and reading this, you know exactly what I mean.  To everyone else, I will discuss several of these topics over time.  You have a responsibility not only to those who seek your help, but to yourself, and helping add credibility to the field.  Many people laugh, roll their eyes, or simply put are nonbelievers.   To those I say, that is alright, I am not here to convince you of anything.  I respect your stand and beliefs. At the same token; I know what I have experienced.  I am a sane and skeptical person, not cynical there is a difference.  I have found many people who mock or shy away simply do not understand or are afraid.  That is alright too.  We all have different opinions and beliefs. 

I have seen and experienced so much in this field I could write a book.  It could even be a comedy in certain areas.  On the serious side, I have met so many great experienced people, and for that, I feel very blessed.  As I look back and continue my research, I see how much I have grown personally and spiritually.  I do this work to help those individuals who have no where to turn and have unanswered questions.  I am not here to boost my name, be ego bound, or use others to obtain or gain anything.  I am here for the same reason I was so many years ago; to help.  It is that simple!  My good friend Jo once said, "Everyone has an agenda, it just may take some time before it surfaces."  My agenda was and will always be to help the community and those seeking my assistance.