Woman Sits Down At Bar And Spots Painting Of Her Teen Self Hanging On Wall ‘Like A Ghost’

Aug 21, 2020

In 2018, a woman named Katy Ryan had the odd experience of finding a familiar memento in a public bar. Her discovery led to an important moment of connection for her family; this video tells the entire story.

Katy Ryan's adventure began on a hot night in August of 2018. Katy was in Dallas, Texas, ready to meet up with a group of her favorite friends.

According to CBS DFW, the close-knit crew decided to visit the bar at Bowen House, a popular cocktail lounge in Dallas. With red leather seating and an upscale vibe, it seemed like the perfect place for a group of trendy youngsters to have a good time. One of the iconic features of the Bowen House interior is the collection of framed artwork that hangs on the restaurant walls. From photos to paintings, there are plenty of gorgeous pieces that help create Bowen House's unique atmosphere.

As Katy was standing in line for the bar, she saw something odd in the corner of her eye. One of the faces peering out from the frames was strangely familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Drawn by curiosity, Katy and her friends ended up sitting at the booth by the painting. Katy had plenty of time to start at the portrait and think about where she'd seen it before. The painting featured a beautiful young woman in a green dress, done in a simple yet glowing style.

Suddenly, Katy realized that this painting used to hang in her house. It was a painting of her mother as a teenager, and the family considered it an important part of their legacy. Katy even had photos of her family standing in the hallway with that very same painting in the background.

According to KDFW, the painting in question was stolen from Katy's family in 2006. The painting was hanging on the wall one day, and then it was simply gone, along with several other valuable things. The family mourned the loss of their possessions and attempted to move on from the crime.

Like other stolen goods, the painting was sold and circulated into the economy. Eventually, the owners of Bowen House found the painting and decided that it matched their bar's aesthetic. They purchased it from the then-owner and hung it above the booth where Katy Ryan sat down one fateful day.

As soon as she realized that the painting belonged to her family, Katy knew that this story wasn't over. She went home with a photo of her finding and brought it to the one person that she knew would truly care.

Katy's mother, Betsy Daniels, immediately recognized her own teenage portrait. When she heard that the painting had been found, she could barely believe it; she'd already given up on it as lost long ago.

When Betsy finally sat down in the booth across from the painting, everyone in the Bowen House bar instantly knew that it was a picture of her. In the video, Betsy still looks strikingly like her younger self. As she gazed upon her own youthful visage, it became clear that it was life, and not a ghost, that was filling the room.

It's strange to realize that personal artifacts can be meaningful to the larger community. The painting of Betsy hung at Bowen House and was seen by countless patrons before Katy wandered into the bar. Little moments like these help tie people together; now there's a connection between Katy, Betsy, and everyone in Dallas.

What would you do if your painting was hanging in a bar? Watch the video, tell us your thoughts, and post this article for all of your friends to see.