I began experiencing visits from the other side when I was just a child.

My first visit was from a neighbor who had always been friendly and kind. Every day when I walked to my bus stop for school, she would open her front door, smile and wave hello to me.

I hadn't seen her for a couple of days, so I asked my mother where Mrs. J. was. She told me that she was sick and in the hospital. A couple of days later, as I was walking to the bus stop in the morning, she opened the front door and waved and smiled as usual.

When I got home that day, I told my mom that Mrs. J. must be all better because she waved at me this morning. My mother's face turned pale and I asked her what was wrong. She told me that Mrs. J. had passed away two days before. At first, I didn't believe her, but eventually I realized that Mrs. J. was really gone.

I don't know why she chose me to say goodbye to, but it was a huge gift. That was only the beginning of visits from others. For some reason now, I have dreams of family and friends who are going to pass before they actually do. For a long time, I felt as if it were a burden because I wanted to have positive experiences, not sad ones. But as time has gone on, I have come to look at it as a gift from God to give me some warning so I can say good bye.

L.S. Hall
ringoandme@earthlink.net

Posted Sept. 4, 2004