Watertown resident Fred M. Grandinetti has been writing about popular culture figures since 1983. His recent article takes a different approach. In the March 2025 edition of Paranormal Underground, Grandinetti details his and his mother’s experiences of being read by mediums.
Grandinetti’s piece reads:
The week funeral services were being held for my grandmother Joan Rivers had on her talk show a gentleman who had written a book titled, We Don’t Die. The author was George Anderson, a medium with the ability to communicate to those who have passed on.
The Masonic Temple in Watertown, at one time, had medium’s days on Saturday mornings. I read Anderson’s book while having readings. I concluded mediums were like plumbers: some great, others not so much.
Six years later, I had a phone reading with George Anderson, and he mentioned names of people I couldn’t recall. However, my father did come through, and George nailed his personality. During the session, George said a young man is coming through but doesn’t want to interrupt. He just wants to thank you for being such a good friend during the short period you were. No name was needed. I knew this was someone I had become close to in college. We did a lot together, for several months, before his unexpected passing.
One funny occurrence was with medium Joanne Gerber at a hotel in Waltham, MA. She would call out a name, and if the audience participant thought it belonged to them, they would raise their hand. Joanne called out the name, “Rose.” I raised my hand, as this was my mother’s sister. Joanne mentioned the various places they went to. Then she said, Rose is very worried about your mother. She sees smoke in the house. I laughed. Prior to seeing Joanne, my mother fell asleep with a sizzling pan on the stove. I came home to see a lot of firefighters in the house. I told my mother, even souls on the other side know when you goof up.
My friend, Mike, had recently lost his beloved dog, Pixie. He had a medium, Linnea Star, come to his home for a reading, provided other participants were there. When animals pass on, they receive the ability to speak like humans. Pixie came though thanking, by name, different people in his life.
I was taking notes when Linnea said, why am I seeing Popeye holding up his son, Swee’pea? I was about to mention how I write about the sailor. However, my friend Mike said that Fred has a dog named Swee’pea, who always sent Pixie cards and treats in the mail. Linnea said, well, Pixie wants to thank Swee’pea. My mother and I looked at each other with our jaws dropping.
Early last year, my brother and I visited medium, Sirry Berndsen. Sirry asked if I wanted to be a Monk because she visualized me teaching. I told her I try to educate people about the work you do. I was informed my mother, who passed in 2023, wanted me to write an eight-hundred-page book on our experiences with mediumship. I settled on an article which I’m happy to share. Just contact me on my Fred Grandinetti Facebook page.
With all my readings, research, and photos (I was given a wonderful photo of an apparition of the Virgin Mary taken in Medjugorje). I’ve concluded there is no death. We’re made up of both a physical and spiritual self. When the physical ceases, the spiritual takes over traveling to the other side. Our loved ones, including animals, reunite with us. Where we begin our new existence depends upon our interests, and how we treat one another. The simplest things, like opening a door for someone, means a lot.”