| My brother-in-law died suddenly last month when | | | | near a bench in the garden. The family had a |
| he fell from a ladder. We drove to Maryland | | | | flower garden with a bench where Don and my |
| where we celebrated Don's life and visited with | | | | sister-in-law often shared a sandwich or a glass of |
| my husband's family. Don was cremated so there | | | | iced tea. They had never had a rabbit so the |
| was no physical body for anyone to ogle. Don | | | | information was puzzling at the time. However, a |
| was an avid fisherman and loved to be near the | | | | few days later my sister-in-law was looking out |
| water. It only seemed appropriate that his | | | | the window when she saw a rabbit standing on its |
| celebration was held at the beach house of some | | | | hind legs staring right back at her. After a |
| dear friends who live on the eastern shore. Each | | | | moment, the rabbit hopped up onto the bench |
| person who wanted to speak was given a turn to | | | | and sat there again facing the house and looking in |
| share a story about Don. Afterward, Jimmy | | | | the window. Tammy knew it was Don trying to |
| Buffet music played and margaritas flowed as | | | | communicate with her. |
| some cried, others laughed at the memories they | | | | Samhain (some call it Halloween) is the time of |
| shared. I think I cried enough for everyone there; | | | | year that we honor those who have gone before |
| not because Don was gone, but because of the | | | | us. It is believed that the veil between the |
| love everyone was expressing so easily. | | | | physical 3-D world and the spirit world is thinnest |
| Don really isn't gone. His presence was sweet and | | | | then. A lot of people report seeing or having |
| strong all day. Many felt him near and told how he | | | | visitations from their deceased loved ones in the |
| has appeared to them since his passing. Some | | | | fall season. In my book, More Than Meets the |
| members of the family called a dear psychic | | | | Eye, many people told me stories about seeing a |
| friend of mine, Reverend Cherise Thorne who had | | | | bird or an animal come up and stare right at |
| offered to connect with Don's spirit and give a | | | | them. "Don't you recognize me?" the little guy |
| message from the Other Side | | | | seems to ask. They just knew it was their loved |
| (newdawnascension.com). Cherise's message was | | | | one. And, why not? Small animals and birds have |
| so comforting that the family was hardly showing | | | | energies that are easy for newly passed spirits to |
| any emotional disturbance. This was perplexing to | | | | manipulate. Not every soul that departs from the |
| me so I asked a few of them how they were | | | | body crosses over immediately. Especially if there |
| able to be so strong. Their reply was consistent, | | | | is unfinished business with loved ones left behind |
| "Because Don is here. He is not gone!" I believe | | | | or if the death was sudden and unexpected as in |
| that. When a wreath of flowers was tossed into | | | | Don's case. Sometimes a loved one will become a |
| the water, it turned around and headed right back | | | | spirit guide for a family member they cherish. |
| into the bay near the house. It stayed there all | | | | Three weeks later Tammy is still aware of Don's |
| afternoon in spite of the wind blowing in every | | | | presence with her. |
| direction. This, to me, is an indication that Don | | | | The time we spent with my husband's family was |
| really wasn't ready to leave us and that he's | | | | beautiful and rich with memories. I didn't know a |
| planning to hang around for a while longer. | | | | lot of the people since I am rather a new-comer |
| Cherise also told my sister-in-law, Tammy, that | | | | to the family, but there was so much love shared |
| she saw animals in the spirit when she was | | | | I felt like I had been part of the family forever. |
| connecting with Don. She described a beloved pet | | | | After all, we are one. And, we are blessed! |
| that had passed and then she mentioned a rabbit | | | | |