I had an interesting conversation with my sister at lunch today. We had both gotten the newsletter from Compassion Friends and there's a very long article about after-death communications (ADC) and the first completed research study. These spiritual experiences are extremely common and in many other parts of the world they are discussed openly and freely.

My sister has been reluctant to share with anyone the conversations she has with her deceased daughter....mostly because people will think she has lost her mind. Her daughter comes to her often and reassures her...she has told her that she is happier than she has ever been. Needless to say, my sister is very comforted by these conversations.

The article is too long to post here, I'm trying to find a way to link it.
I did find this site very interesting: http://www.after-death.com/about/adc.htm

I feel my father's presence very often. I "smell" him regularly. My dad smelled of Gleam toothpaster and coffee. It was his smell. I remember when in high school he would take us to school in his Mustang. He of course brushed his teeth before leaving and then took a cup of coffee in the car with him. It's hard to explain how it smelled, but he would talk while driving and it was just his breath that I remember. When I smell his presence, it always seems to come from behind me as if he is watching over me. I never smell it head on...just behind.

I also dream about him.

Thank you Alffe for that.

My sister communicates with my best friend Penny. Go figure.

And speaking of sounding crazy, let me jump in. I think my sister is communicating with granddoody when he's in his bedroom. He jabbers and waves at someone and when you interrupt, he stops and waves bye bye to some empty part of the room. Or it could be some stranger in which case scares the behesus outta me.

Tell sweet sister hello for me, and I don't think she is one bit crazy, and I'm so glad she finds comfort. Give her a hug for me too. And one for the kitty whose name escapes me. Rose? I have a picture of her from my trip there a couple years ago.

I don't think I'm open and receptive enough. However (and it could have been a figment of my imagination), one day about 6 months ago I was in the kitchen, and a very loud and audible "Hello Nancy" came from a male voice behind me. I dropped a dish and turned around to see nobody. I recognized the voice as the passed husband of my best friend.

Well I was hoping this would generate some open conversations about what we have or have not experienced.

Smells are common for many people. (((Julie)))

Mr.Alffe has always dreamed about our son Michael and when he'd share it with me, I'd be so jealous and upset. Why couldn't I ever dream about him?

One night, maybe three or four years ago..Michael came and sat on my bed in the middle of the night and I woke up. He said "I'm okay Mom"....and he had gray hair!!! Had he lived, by now he would have gray hair.

It only happened once....but I'll treasure that forever.

Mr. Alffe continues to see him in his dreams.

Doody...I'm not a bit suprised that little man "sees" someone. Hugs

Awww Alffe how sweet that Michael came to you in the middle of th enight and told you he was okay ((((Alffe)))))

Doody I bet he's talking to your sis! (((Doody)))

I think I posted this at the old place but when my mom had had her stroke, a couple of months later I had spent a week here with her and then headed back to Houston only to get a phone call as soon as I got back that she had gone downhill real fast and they were taking her to the hospital. My brother was in Colorado at the time. We knew it was the end and the doctors said they'd try to get her to hold on for us to come say our goodbyes. She passed at 6:30am.

Later that week we were all together and talking and Robbie said he had been laying in bed about 5:30am lamenting that Mommy wouldn't get to see his new condo. He worked nights and slept days, so he had blackout curtains on his window, but unexplainably his room filled with light. He said that his first thought was that Mommy had been there to see his condo, but that it was something else since it was 5:30 and she died at 6:30. We all then realized the time difference was an hour and that Mommy had visited him afterall and had seen his condo.

I will chime in here with my story of how my dad was able to let us know he is still around. After he passed my sister and I were sitting in his backyard talking about his gun case and who should take it. While we were talking the air filled with the smell of gun oil and I knew that dad was there. Dad was an avid shooter and lived his retirement going skeet shooting. After that I kept waiting for a dream from him because everyone else had had one. Then one morning I remembered a dream where he just kept saying "end of message" over and over. You see that is what he had on his answering maching message at the end and we all used to laugh about that. I remember I was so upset because I didn't get the message but in all actuality I did. ...end of message ...Sue

I haven't had any after death conversations but several years ago a close friend of mine died from a massive heart attack while in surgery. I found out from another friend just hours later. I was having a hard time dealing with the news and couldn't stop crying so I decided to drive 2 hours to be with another close friend.

I got in my car and took off...about five minutes into the drive I felt a breeze inside the car... the air was off and the vents closed. The next thing I know it felt as those someone was holding my right hand. I knew at that instant that it was Larry.

We used to work together but in different departments. Larry was old enough to be my father but we were instant friends. It never failed when I was busy and stressed out that Larry would walk in, hold my hand--always my right hand too and tell me that it was all going to be ok. For two hours I never moved my hand...I was afraid I would lose the feeling of his touch. When I arrived at my friends house I heard...you're here now, be safe, it's all going to be ok.

I've never felt his touch again...but I know it was him telling me he was ok.

I just love you all sharing these "happenings" for lack of a better word. And I sense a common theme of comfort. I can't help but wonder why some people fear death so. Yes, embrace your life but I feel that we'll see our loved ones some day.

I'm bumping up this old thread from the year 2006 because we are talking about it again.....