Golf In A Parallel Universe (36 page)

I wake up the next morning. The sun is coming into the window and it is a nice day. I get up take a shower. Then I sit by the window drinking coffee looking at the view. I am in a high-rise apartment and have a good view of Chicago. Nice view, but I wish I was here under better circumstances. It is 8:00 am and I wonder what it is going to be like when Jerry Churchill gets here in a few hours. I tell myself that I will listen to what he says and keep an open mind like he told me. I make up my mind not to get upset at anything he says. I know he is here to help me. The next few hours, I just hang out. I notice I do feel better today. My mind is more clear and that stupid voice is not too strong this morning.

I start to get anxious as Noon approaches. Finally at 12:05 I get a call from Agent Keller from the FBI. He tells me that my visitor Jerry Churchill is here and they are bringing him up. In a couple of minutes they knock at the door. I look through the peephole and they are there and I let them in. I am so happy to see him. I shake his hand and then give him a big hug. I really want to cry but I am able to control it. We had a couple of minutes of chit chat between the three of us and then Agent Keller left.

“I got some burgers for you," he told me as he held up a white greasy bag. He had a good size bag full of burgers and fries. I grabbed them quickly in a jokingly manner running to the table like I just go a new present. “Man, you do not know how bad of a cook I am” I said laughing. “I have been dying for some good fast food burgers. Common, have a burger," I told him as I was pointing at the bag. “No thanks, I never touch those” he said smiling. “I really watch what I eat." And I know he is right. He is 78 years old and in perfect shape. He is a health nut, and it is paying off for him. I just hope I am as good as shape as he is when I am his age. We talked about while about the Scottish and the British Open. He told me that I have really elevated my game to a new level and he is happy to progress that I have made. “All because of you” I replied. “If you would have not had that talk with after the TPC Sawgrass and put me in touch With Gus, I would not be where I am now."

“Oh, speaking of Gus” he replied. “I have talked to him about you a few times recently. “Really what did he say?” I asked anxiously. “Gus means the world to me, how is he doing?" I asked. “He is doing real well. He is very pleased with your progress. He said that you have a special talent, and he regrets he did not meet you a few years earlier. He said if he would have had more time to work with you that you have turned out to be something special. “However, Gus and I both think that you have become a special player. You are making history this year," he said smiling. I thanked him for that thought.

We were running out of small talk. He asked me if I am ready to talk about the things that he is here for. I told him I was. We sat down at the table and he started to talk. “Jim," he said. We talked yesterday on the phone about that voice in your head and those strange dreams. If you were to guess, what do you think this is all about? Any ideas?, he asked. I took a deep breath. “All I can think of is that I am going through some weird emotional stress that was triggered when I won my first Major, the Masters. That’s when all of this started. I know the human brain is complex and something has happened to me with my emotions. I was going to see a Shrink after I got back from the British Open but now I am stuck here. Basically, I think that I am just losing my mind," I told him in a solemn tone . “I understand," he said nodding his head. ”I have gone through the exact same thing that you are going through. I know how you feel. And I think that you have actually handled it quite well," he told me. “Well, thanks," I replied. He continued on. “Jim, I have been wanting to talk to you a long time about this. I was not sure how to approach this. I wanted to give you bits and pieces of information and slowly help you realize what is happening. But with all that has happened recently there just have not been time. I am going to have to lay it out all today," he said.

“Basically, I am going crazy, right? I replied. “No, absolutely not, this is not a psychological issue," he replied. I had a confused look on my face as he was talking. “Look Jim," he said in a serious tone. “I am going to tell you some things that you will not believe. “Actually” he said smiling. “You will be accusing me the one of being crazy. All I ask is to keep an open mind. In the beginning you will not believe me and you may get upset. That is understandable. But eventually you will become to realize that what I am about to tell you is the absolute truth.” I am sitting here listening to him and I cannot imagine what he is talking about. “What could it be if it is not some psychological thing going on with me," I asked myself.

“Ok, lay it out to me. I am all ears” I replied in a curious tone. “Well Jim, there is a lot of things that we do not understand in life. I am going to get a little philosophical with you for a moment and then more scientific. You just have to keep an open mind, OK?," he asked. “OK” I replied. “Jim we live in a big universe. We are just a spec of dust in the Milky Way Galaxy. And the Milky Way Galaxy is just a spec of dust in the universe. There are so many things that we do not understand about the universe. Would you agree?," he asked. “Ah, yea sure” I said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Absolutely” he replied. “Jim, just because we do not understand some things, that does not mean that a lot of things are not real. Look, science has come a long way in recent years. We did not even know that black holes existed in the universe until a few years ago, it was just a theory. Now we know that it is a fact that they exist. We have come a long ways scientifically in the last few years. Basically the universe is just one big mathematical equation when we break it down.”

“OK” I said. I am just wondering where is is going with all of this. “So," he said. You are asking where am I going and how does this apply to you, correct," he asked. “Yeah," I replied. “I am not a scientist Jim, and hard for me to explain, but I know what is going on here." I was literally on the edge of my seat when he was talking. I just could not figure out where is he as going with this. But if it was going to answer some questions on what I have been going through, I was ready.

“I am sure that you have heard of the theory of A Parallel Universe, correct?” he asked. “Ah, yea, I think so," I replied shaking my head wondering what the heck he is talking about. “Basically, the theory of a Parallel Universe is that there is another Universe just like ours. It is a mirror image of our Universe. And each one of us live in that other Universe as ourselves. So that means there are two of us. One in our home universe and one of us in another, or parallel universe."

“Wow, sounds cool." I said in a joking manner. Then he looked at me very seriously and a little nervous. “Jim, A Parallel Universe is thought to be a theory. But actually it is a fact. It is a mathematical fact at that. And Jim," he said in a matter a fact tone. Then he took a deep breath and was hesitate to continue. But then he continued on.

“This is where I lay it all out to you. And I know you will not believe this right now. But the reason that you are having all theses strange experiences." Then he stopped and took a deep breath. “It is the direct result of your other self coming over from a parallel Universe into your body and mind and soul. You have two people inside you right now. One which is your self in this Universe. And your other self from a Parallel Universe. That voice you hear is actually you from a different dimension.

I looked at him. “What?!," I said smiling. Then I started laughing. “A Parallel Universe?” I said as I started laughing harder. I got up from the table and sat on the couch, just laughing. It felt good. I have not had a good laugh in a while. “You got me on this one” I said laughing. “I did not know that you were such a practical joker," I said pointing my finger at him. He, just of smiled and opened up his hands in a “Oh well” type of gesture. “I am getting a beer after that one” I said laughing and walking to the refrigerator. I got a beer and opened it, still laughing. What else you got for me, I said still chuckling and taking a drink of my beer.

He just shook his head. “Oh, quite a bit more,” he said, in a concerned tone. Then, I noticed that he was not smiling any longer. I sat back down at the table and he looked at me very seriously. “Should I continue," he asked. At that point, I realized he was not joking. I am starting to think that he is crazy. “I am not joking” he said very seriously. He continued on. “At this point, I know that you think that I am crazy. But before long you will realize that I am telling the truth. Will you just listen to me?" he asked. “Ah, Ok” I said attentive tone.

“I will give you the big picture and then we will narrow it down. A Parallel Universe is a fact, not a theory. There are two of us. One in each Universe. And sometimes people cross over to the other universe. It is usually triggered by some type of catastrophe event. When this happens, they actually go into their body and the mind of themselves in the other Universe. And at that point there are actually two of you inside your body, mind and soul. That's what happened to you. The voice that you hear is yourself, from the other Universe. In the other Universe you are a family man that likes to play golf. In the other universe you are just a weekend golfer. Now your other self is here with you. That voice is thrilled to be in your body as a professional golfer. That's why it is so strong when you are playing golf or just practicing hitting golf balls. Your other self is having so much fun to be able to hit a golf ball like a professional golfer."

“Ok, I understand now” I said in a upset tone as I pounded my fist on the table. “You're freaking crazy!”

“Ok, let's go with that then” he said as he leaned back with his hands behind his head. “Let’s just go with me being crazy for now. That's fine with me, and that is certainly what I expected you would say. But that being said, can you just listen to all of what I have to say?," he said looking at me with a serious stare. “Sure” I said shrugging my shoulders. I felt like I might as well let him talk, I have nothing else better to do. “OK” he said as he put his arms back on the table. “Just keep an open mind and listen to this crazy person. As I mentioned before. There are two Universes. One is your home Universe and then we have a Parallel Universe which is a mirror image of our Universes. As you know the Universes is huge, it is immense. But the separation of these two universes is razor thin. And sometimes as I mentioned a couple of minutes ago, something happens where people get cast over to the parallel universe to your existing universe. It is very rare, but it does happen. Even though we have carbon copies of ourselves in the Parallel Universe, we are not the same in Both. We usually have totally different names, and total different occupations or lifestyles. In one Universe you may be a rich business person for example. In the other Universe you may be a factory worker or working at a restaurant worker or something. It is always two different lives, but the same body, mind and soul. One thing about you Jim. It just so happens that you have the same name in both universes which is unusual but it happens. You are Jim Galloway in both universes. But this universe you are a Professional Golfer where as your home universe you have a normal job and you are a weekend golfer.

"OK, I will play along," I said sarcastically. “So how does this all apply to me?," I asked. “Well Jim, the day you won the Masters is when this all happened to you. The moment you sank that putt on the 18th green. At that Instance, your other self came over from the other the other or Parallel Universe. Think about it Jim. At that very moment, you felt something. You knew something happened, didn't your Jim?," he said looking at me. “Ah, well yeah” I said shaking my head. “Of course, I just sank a putt to win my first Major Golf tournament. I had all kinds of crazy emotions going on at that time. It was the biggest event of my professional golf career. “That’s right” he said shaking his head. But at that very second, you saw yourself, somewhere else didn't you? You saw yourself, just like you see yourself, in your dreams. You saw yourself as a normal everyday amateur golfer that just got thrust into winning a professional golf tournament and you were very confused for a couple of minutes, correct?"

I looked at him and I knew that he was correct, but I did not want to admit it. I do remember when I sank that putt, I felt like I just came from somewhere else. And it was the person I see in my dreams. I jumped up from the table and waved my hands in a stopping gesture. “This is crazy, I don’t believe any of this," I said in a distressed tone. Then I sat back down at the table. He leaned over and looked at me. “But you did have those feeling correct," he asked. “Maybe! Maybe So!," I said throwing up my hands. “Let me continue” he said calmly. “OK” I replied nervously. “Remember the Masters Victory Party that night?," he asked. “Yes” I replied. “I saw you talking to some women and you seemed out of place. You are a single guy and have always enjoyed having a chance to meet someone, correct?," he asked. “Ah, yea, I guess so I replied." But you had strange feelings that night, didn't you? I just looked at him. “You had the feeling that you were cheating on someone didn't you? And you could not figure out why you felt that way could you?," he said looking at me. As he told me that, I do remember that very clearly. I could not understand why I felt like I was cheating on someone. I am a single guy. But I felt like I was married or was in a relationship. I felt uncomfortable because those women were flirting with me at that time. Then he continued. “The reason you felt like that is because you are a happily married family man in the other universe. And you felt like if you do anything with another woman you would be cheating on your wife, correct?," he asked, looking at me intently. I just looked at him not knowing what to say. But at that moment, I knew he is right.

“There was another thing that happened that night, that I know effected you in a big way," he said. “What’s that?” I replied. “Remember, late in the night we were sitting at a table and we were talking about your golf swing. Remember how you told me that you used to flop your wrist on your backswing and went way past parallel?” And that you had shortened your backswing, and it has seemed to help your golf game?, he asked. “Yeah, I remember that," I replied. “As you recall, when I left that night, I looked at you as I was leaving and I turned around, and I told you, “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep It Parallel," and it hit you like a ton of bricks didn't it?," he asked. He was right, I remember that so clearly. "I said the same thing to you a few days later at the practice range and you were stunned then, correct?” , he said looking at me.