Golf In A Parallel Universe

by Jimmy Bloodworth

  “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.

  I pushed my chair back sliding backwards on the floor. I am confused. I do not know how he understands that this statement “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep It Parallel” seems to have an effect to me. He looked at me. “And you hear that statement in your mind quit
e often don’t you. Especially in pressure situations on the golf course, right?”

  I just looked at him, not knowing what to say, because I have heard that statement when I am playing in a tournament and under a stressful situation. And I also seem to hear it in two voices in tandem, his voice and some other voice.

  “The reason that statement has such an effect on you Jim, is because it is the most important thing of your life right now. I will explain that later” he said.

  “Shall I go on?," he asked. “I just nodded my head, sitting there dumbfounded. "I am sure you noticed, the very first time you picked up a golf club after the Masters, that's when you first heard that voice in the back of your head, correct?” I nodded my head. “Let me guess. Every time you hit a ball on the practice range or on the course, that little voice was just thrilled, correct?," he asked. I nodded my head again. He continued on. “From that point on that voice was cheering you on. You really started to enjoy golf more than ever. For the first time in years, golf was really fun for you again. Before you were just a burned out professional golfer at the end of your career. But suddenly had extreme enthusiasm for the game. That's why you have practice so hard since you won the Masters. There is a good reason for that. In the other universe you were just a normal amateur golfer. And when your other self joined you in this Universe, he was thrilled to hit a golf ball like a professional golfer. So that's why that other voice has been cheering you on and making you more motivated than ever. And that's why you have worked harder than ever on your golf game, because it is so much fun now. Does that sound familiar?," he asked. I just looked at him. I know he is telling me how I feel, but I am not sure how to react.

  “This is not just happening to you,it happens to other people as well. For example elite athletes such as football, basketball players. They have the same experience as you have. They had themselves cast into their bodies, mind and soul from the Parallel Universe. You see athletics working very hard at their game. Much harder than the other players. And they develop into elite players because they work so hard. The reason they are working so hard is because they are having so much fun. They also have that voice cheering them on. They were not professional Athletes in the other universe. It also happens to non-athletes such as people in business or politics. Now I am not saying all elite athletes or successful business people are experiencing themselves coming over from a Parallel Universe. But some do.It is very rare that someone crosses over but it does happen. And Jim, you are one of those people that is experiencing this phenomenon." I just sat there, wondering what to say. “That's it in a nutshell, any questions?," he asked.

  I jumped up. “Questions!?," I barked out in a laughing in a and confused tone. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t believe any of this crap," I cried out. “I understand Jim. But just go with this for a few minutes, he replied. "Ok, fine! I barked out. “I will play the game."

  “Tell me this. How do you know all of this anyway?," I asked as I was staring at him. “Because," he replied as he stood up and walked towards the window and looked out at the view of Chicago. “It happened to me also." He turned around and looked at me. “I know exactly what you are going through, there is so much more that I can tell you," he said.

  “OK” I said laughing. I folded my arms. “Prove it!. Sure you described a few things that I may be going through. But that may have been just a good guess. You know I am going through some emotional issues. Tell me something that will convince me," I said upbeat tone.

  “OK” he replied. “I will tell you some things that maybe will convince you. As I mentioned before. The two Parallel Universes are similar. We all have carbon copies of ourselves in each universe. But the names, careers or life paths are different. Just because you are someone famous and successful in one Universe does not mean you will be on the other. So tell me Jim. How long have you been playing on the PGA tour?," he asked. “Ten years” I replied. And I am sure that you know golf history really well correct?." “Sure” I replied.

  “OK then," he said with his arms folded and finger on his chin in a thinking gesture. “Have you ever heard of a professional golfer named Jack Nicklaus?” he asked. I thought for a few seconds. “Nope, I have never heard of him," I replied. “Think harder, you see him in your mind, don’t you," he asked. I started thinking. And I could picture this person in my mind. And then he spoke out. “The Golden??” "Bear!” I replied, in a confused tone. "Tell me about him," said Jerry. “The greatest golfer that ever lived," I replied.

  “Jim, you just told me you never heard of him and now you tell me he is the greatest golfer that ever lived?? I am sure if we try to pull him up on the Internet we will find nothing of this guy," he told me.

  One more," he said holding up his finger. “Complete this statement. “Arnie's Blank?." I barked out “Army." “Who does Arnie's Army follow," he asked. “Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest golfers of all times," I spoke out sharply. Then he looked at me. “Jim, you are a professional golfer. Have you ever heard of Arnold Palmer before?," he asked. “No, I have not. You're tricking me," I said as I jumped up from the couch. "You are just playing some stupid word game and leading me into saying these things. “No I am not Jim. It just so happens they are two of the greatest golfers of all time. But they are in your other Universe, not this one.

  “You're Nuts," I replied. "OK, it is not important that you believe me right now. But in the future it will be more important. Actually, it will be imperative that you understand all of this before you go back to your home universe. But let me show you one quick thing and you will see that I am leading you in any way."

  “This is all crazy," I replied. “You are just playing some type of word game and leading me into these answers. "Do you have some pens and paper," he asked. I took out a sheet of paper and pen and gave it to him. He sat down on the table. Now you take a paper and pen go across the room, so you cannot see me. I am going to tell you some names. You write the name down and describe who they are. Just picture them in your mind." he said. “Ok” I replied. I took the pen and paper and went over by the sofa and laid my paper on a small end table. “OK” he said as he started writing. We cannot see each other's writings. “Write down “Michael Jordan." Ever heard of him?," he asked. “Nope, I replied”

  “Write down who you think he is. So I wrote down his name with the description of Basket Ball player, I have no idea why. “Next name is “George Washington." Ever heard of him?” “Nope” I replied. I wrote his name as down First President of the United States for some reason. “And Last” he replied. “Bill Gates." I wrote his name down and wrote Computer Businessman.

  As we finished, I was on one side of the living room, and he was at the dining room table close to the door. “Ok," he said as he stood up and turned the paper over. “I have got to go. We have lots more to talk about, but I think you have had enough for the day. Hang in the buddy, it is all going to be OK," he said.

  He turned around and walked out the door. I just stood there. I was surprised that he left so suddenly, but I was glad to see him go. I have had enough of this. I stood up with the paper in my hand and walked to the window and looked out at the view of the city. I was telling myself that this guy is crazy. At the same time I kept looking out of the corner of my eye at the table with the paper on it. I was trying to ignore it thinking this is just a joke. But I had the uneasy feeling that maybe something is really going on here. I walked towards the table. I laid my paper down to the right side of his paper. I could feel my heart pounding. I took a deep breath, and I turned over his paper with my left hand. I looked, and I was stunned. They were both the same thing. Each of these names which I have never heard of, but pictured them in my mind clearly. My description of the names was the same as his. There is no way that Jerry Churchill could have seen what I was writing. At this point, I realized that this could not be a trick. He is telling the truth.

  I just sat down on the sofa and put my head in my hands. “This has to be a bad dream” I told myself
. I tried to rationalize this. I tried to figure out if this was some elaborate trick. But he was right on with everything. And how could it be a trick when I wrote down those names.? I just walked around the apartment confused. And that stupid voice came back in my head again and it yelling at me. It kept telling me the same thing over and over. "Let's go play golf, Lets go play golf." It was driving me crazy.

  Before long it was dark. I was exhausted and went to bed. My dreams were intense. Same dreams as before. I saw myself playing golf at that same little golf course in that same small town. Trying to hit the ball, but I was just a hacker. I saw my wife and kids crying telling me to come home. It was the same thing over and over again. It seemed like it went on for ever.

  I woke up the next morning in a cold sweat and the sun was shining in the window. I got up and took a shower and drank some coffee. I sat by the window thinking about what Jerry Churchill told me yesterday. I started thinking, maybe he is not crazy. Maybe he is telling the truth. Everything he told me was spot on as far as what has been going on with me. I thought about it for a long time. I decided to at least keep an open mind. He is correct when he told me that this is a big universe and there is a lot that we do not understand. I started feeling better by at least accepting this a bit. I tell myself this is stupid, but at least it gives me a chance to think maybe I am not crazy after all.

  Then my phone rings. It is agent Keller from the FBI. He asked if he can come up, he has something to tell me. I tell him that is fine. I wait for him anticipating on what he has to say. About ten minutes later, there is a knock at the door. I check the peephole and it is him and I let him in.

  “Well” he said smiling. We were going to move you to a different city today, because you have been here for a few days. However I got good news for you.”